20:47, 28 June 2021

Canadian human rights defenders call for release of Azerbaijani activist Elchin Mamed

Elchin Mamed. Screenshot https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/ru/case/travel-ban-and-temporary-detention-elchin-mammad

In its appeal to Ilham Aliev, the President of Azerbaijan should secure the release of sentenced journalist and human rights defender Elchin Mamed, the human rights organization “Canadian Journalists for Free Expression” stated. Elchin Mamed’s examination at a prison hospital was not deep, a mother of the imprisoned journalist complained.

In March, Azerbaijani human rights defenders asked the authorities to transfer Elchin Mamed to a prison hospital, but he was prescribed only outpatient treatment in the penal colony. On June 6, Elchin Mamed fainted, his mother reports.

In their appeal, the human rights defenders note that after his arrest, Elchin Mamed was subjected to ill-treatment and his condition deteriorated. “While Elchin Mamed is imprisoned, the responsibility for harm to his life and health will be borne by the government of Azerbaijan,” the human rights defenders emphasize in their appeal.

Earlier, the human rights organization “Amnesty International” (AI) has stated that Elchin Mamed was arrested on “trumped-up charges” after he had posted on the Internet a critical material about the human rights situation in Azerbaijan.

In October 2020, Elchin Mamed was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in a case on theft and illegal possession of weapons. The journalist pleaded not guilty.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 28, 2021 at 12:51 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent