Rights defender Elchin Mamed goes on hunger strike in Azerbaijani prison

Elchin Mamed, an Azerbaijani human rights defender and a journalist has refused to eat while demanding his release from jail. Mr Mamed, who is suffering from serious illnesses, has decided to go on a hunger strike because he has despaired of gaining freedom, human rights defenders have noted.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 8, 2021, the Baku court rejected Mamed's appeal, who asked to replace his remaining prison term for conditional imprisonment or to transfer him to a colony-settlement, because he had served a third of his sentence.

As reported by the NGO "Legal Education of Youth of Sumgait" that is headed by Mamed, he has dated his hunger strike to the World Press Freedom Day marked on May 3.

Rakhilya Mamedova, Elchin's mother, said she worried about her son's health. "Elchin has fallen victim to his human rights and journalistic activities. He was arrested for publicizing facts of human rights violations and officials' lawlessness ... Out of despair, he is forced to go on a hunger strike, but this is dangerous for his life," Ms Mamedova has stated, adding that her son suffers from serious illnesses.

Let us remind you that Mamed is on the list of 126 political prisoners released earlier in February by the Union "For Freedom of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners".