Azerbaijani oppositionist, Niyameddin Akhmedov hospitalized in prison hospital

The state of health of Niyameddin Akhmedov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), has greatly deteriorated; he was hospitalized into the medical facility of the country's Penitentiary Service with suspected coronavirus.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in the spring of 2020, Niyameddin Akhmedov was arrested for 30 days for violating the quarantine and disobeying the police. His fellow party members asserted that law enforcers had tortured him so that he slandered Ali Kerimli, the PFPA leader. Akhmedov was accused of financing terrorism; and in January, new charges were brought against him – of public appeals against the state and illegal circulation of prohibited objects. The state prosecutor insists on 15 years in prison, while the defence insists that the trial was biased.

According to the Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office (GPO), Akhmedov received money for terrorist activities from Gabil Mamedov, who lives in emigration in Germany and "had created a secret grouping with the aim of committing terror acts and undermining the public security in Azerbaijan." However, Gezyal Bairamly, a PFPA deputy chairperson, said that Akhmedov and Mamedov had been neighbours; and Mamedov borrowed money from Akhmedov, and "a few years after leaving for Germany, he began returning the debt in parts."

Two days ago, at the trial, Akhmedov felt bad, said Zibeida Sadygova, an advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2020, the human rights union "For Freedom of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners" included Niyameddin Akhmedov into the list of political prisoners.