Brother of journalist Polad Aslanov arrested in Azerbaijan

Niyameddin Aslanzade, a brother of the convicted Azerbaijani journalist, Polad Aslanov, has been arrested for reasons unknown to his relatives. Polad believes that his brother's arrest has become a way of putting pressure on him.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in November 2020, the court sentenced Polad Aslanov, the editor-in-chief of the "Xeberman.com" and "Press-az.com", to 16 years in prison under the treason case.

"Six weeks ago, when my husband was on a hunger strike, Niyameddin called the Ombudsperson's office and in a sharp emotional form expressed his indignant that they were not interested in his brother's fate," said Gyulmira, Polad Aslanov's wife, has stated.

According to her story, Niyameddin Aslanzade was summoned to some power structure; and on August 26, he disappeared without a trace.

"They give a hint to Polad that next time his brother can be imprisoned for a longer period, if he doesn't stop his fight for his rights and the rights of other prisoners. I am a woman and a mother of a small child; therefore, they can't put pressure me, and decided to put it on Niyameddin, although he has serious health problems," Gyulmira Aslanova has suggested.

According to her story, after her husband's July hunger strike, the pressure on him stopped. On July 12, the journalist went on a hunger strike in protest against extortions practised in the colony; and on July 18, he stopped it.

Namizad Safarov, the coordinator of the Centre against Repression and Torture, believes that Aslanzade's arrest was accompanied by a gross violation of his rights – after his detention, he was not allowed to contact his relatives and invite an advocate of his choice. If the arrest is appealed against, this case has winning prospects at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Mr Safarov believes.