On the 33rd day of hunger strike, independent doctor was let to visit Salekh Rustamov

The health condition of Salekh Rustamov, an Azerbaijani activist, who has been on his protest hunger strike in prison for 33 days, continues deteriorating. He has severe headaches, his brother has stated. An independent doctor, Adil Geibulla, who visited Rustamov, reported that the hunger-striker was under "supportive treatment."

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on February 27, in Azerbaijan, Salekh Rustamov, a citizen of Russia, an activist of the Popular Front Party (PFPA), was sentenced to seven years and three months of imprisonment. Later, the Supreme Court (SC) reduced the sentence by two months. On November 6, Salekh Rustamov went on a hunger strike.

Talekh Rustamov, Salekh's brother, visited him on December 8 at the medical institution of the Penitentiary Service. "Salekh is in a very grave condition. His joints had long ached; now he has severe headaches. His nervous system is disturbed," Talekh Rustamov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On December 7, at the above medical institution of the Penitentiary Service (prison hospital), Salekh Rustamov was visited by Professor Adil Geibulla, Doctor of Medical Sciences, an independent doctor.

"Salekh Rustamov himself came to our meeting, but under visual supervision so that if he stumbles, they would support him. The doctors of the medical institution informed me about the supportive treatment that they are giving to Salekh Rustamov. It helps to maintain his health during his hunger strike. Nevertheless, his hunger-striking for a long time; and it will be difficult to maintain the body endlessly with medical intervention. Of course, as a doctor, I recommended him to stop the hunger strike. However, he makes decisions by himself; and we cannot interfere into this," Professor Geibulla has stated.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 8, 2021 at 08:30 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.