Former Azerbaijani Prosecutor General, Eldar Gasanov, placed into military hospital

Eldar Gasanov, a former Public Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, has been transferred to hospital after the repeated decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to provide him with the necessary high-quality medical care. The ECtHR’s decision was fulfilled with a delay; and this has aggravated Gasanov's health condition, his defence asserts.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Gasanov was arrested in August 2020 within the case of employees of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) suspected of abuses, taking bribes and embezzling budget money. He stated his innocence. In March this year, his advocate stated an aggravation of Gasanov's health condition; and in April, his defence asked Azerbaijani President to release Gasanov and help to provide him with the required treatment. Human rights defenders link his prosecution with Gasanov’s political ambitions.

On July 2, Eldar Gasanov was transferred to a military hospital, his advocate, Djavad Djavadov, has informed, adding that after the defence’s repeated appeal to the ECtHR on June 23, the Court made a new decision, demanding Gasanov’s hospitalization in a tougher form. However, this decision was also executed with a delay.

The advocate has recalled that Gasanov is experiencing severe pain in his backbone and is actually in a pre-paralysis state. Besides, amid his acute form of diabetes mellitus, he has heart pains.

Gasanov's arrest was the first arrest of an ambassador (he was appointed to this post after being the Public Prosecutor General) in the history of Azerbaijan since the restoration of independence.