Journalist Polad Aslanov goes on hunger strike in courtroom

While the court was considering his appeal against a 16-year sentence in a high treason case, Polad Aslanov, an Azerbaijani journalist, announced a hunger strike. At the court of appeal, he claimed protraction of his case consideration, demanded a fair trial and transfer to house arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in June 2019, Polad Aslanov was arrested on suspicion of espionage. On December 24, 2019, he was charged with threats of murder or grievous bodily harm. The journalist himself linked the persecution to his professional work. On November 16, 2020, the court sentenced Aslanov to 16 years in prison. Human rights defenders also doubted the truthfulness of the proofs of Aslanov's guilt.

In late November, 2020, Polad Aslanov's defence filed an appeal against the verdict, his wife Gyulmira Aslanova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to her story, on February 1, 2021, at the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA), Polad Aslanov expressed his protest against the protraction of consideration of his appeal.

"Polad stated at the trial that from today (February 1) he is going on a hunger strike with the demand to ensure an objective trial. As the first step, he demanded to change his freedom restraint measure for house arrest. He also challenged the court, expressed his distrust for the judges, who had involved him in trial without giving him the opportunity to prepare," his wife has added.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 2, 2021 at 00:11 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.