Defence of Azerbaijani activist claims violation of his rights in SIZO

Ismail Gasanov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), continues his hunger strike at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) for the third day, but he was provided with no medical care. Gasanov is still not allowed to call his relatives, although two calls a week are allowed for arrested persons by the law.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ismail Gasanov, a PFPA activist, is on a hunger strike at the Baku SIZO since August 16, protesting against his criminal prosecution and violation of his right to telephone conversations with his family.

Seimur Khazi, a PFPA deputy chairman, has informed the "Caucasian Knot" that Gasanov continues his hunger strike today. His party colleagues learned about this from other SIZO inmates, who are not deprived of the right to call their relatives and can transfer information to them.

According to the law on the rights of persons kept in jails, arrested persons are entitled to make 15-minute phone calls twice a week, said Namizad Safarov, a former member of the Bar Association, and a coordinator of the Committee against Repressions and Torture.

He has added that an inmate who is holding a hunger strike should be isolated in a separate cell and provided with medical supervision, which was not done in Gasanov's case.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 18, 2020 at 10:35 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.