Journalist Afghan Sadygov goes on dry hunger strike

The health condition of the Azerbaijani journalist, Afghan Sadygov, who went on a hunger strike at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), has worsened, but on the 20th day of his protest he also refused to drink water, his wife has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the wife of Afghan Sadygov, the head of the "Azel.tv" website, said that he was detained on May 13; and their apartment was searched. On May 14, the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) announced that Afghan was accused of extortion. Sadygov himself treated the charge as slander. On July 10, the journalist went on a hunger strike at the SIZO and stopped it five days later. On November 3, the court sentenced him to 7 years in prison; and on November 4, in protest, he went on a hunger strike again.

On the 20th day of his hunger strike, Afghan Sadygov refused to drink water, his wife, Sevindj Sadygova, has informed.

"The bosses of the Baku SIZO-1 and the Penitentiary Service gave no reaction to Afghan's hunger strike. He was not isolated from other inmates and not taken under doctors' supervision. Only on the 16th day, when Afghan's blood tension dropped to 80/50, he was placed into the medical unit of the SIZO. However, Afghan refused from injecting nutrients. He stated from the very beginning that on the 20th day he would also refuse to drink fluids. And yesterday, on November 23, he kept his word. But it can cost him his life. He is already in a very weak condition," said Ms Sadygova, adding that her husband demands to stop his criminal prosecution.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 24, 2020 at 09:45 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.