Azerbaijani journalist complains of worsened health during hunger strike

On the sixth day of his hunger strike at Azerbaijani colony, Ikram Ragimov, the editor-in-chief of the "Realliq.info" website, has reported a deterioration of his health and custody conditions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 12, 2019, a court in Baku found Ikram Ragimov guilty of extortion and sentenced him to 5.5 years of imprisonment. Since December 28, 2019, Ragimov has been on a hunger strike because of the pressure exerted on him by the colony staff, his relatives assert.

On January 2, Ikram Ragimov called from the colony and complained about his custody conditions, his cousin, Galib Gasanov, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Since December 28, Ikram is on his hunger strike, that is, for the sixth day already. Moreover, he held a dry hunger strike for the first three days. He was isolated and placed into a solitary cell. Сonditions there are like in a dungeon (punishment cell). Besides, he has already serious health problems. His one leg is practically numb, he barely moves it. He has periodic dizziness," Mr Gasanov has stated.

According to his cousin, Ragimov is protesting against unlawful criminal prosecution and unjustified change of the institution for his serving the sentence.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 2, 2020 at 09:59 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.