Oppositionist Akhmedov's supporters claim he was tortured

Niyameddin Akhmedov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was tortured in the colony and threatened with tougher punishment if he complained, the PFPA has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January 2021, Niyameddin Akhmedov was accused of public appeals against the state and illegal circulation of prohibited items. On September 24, the activist was hospitalized. His health condition deteriorated sharply due to a long hunger strike, the activist's father has recalled. On October 8, the court sentenced Akhmedov to 13 years in prison. On March 23, 2022, he went on a hunger strike again and was locked up in the dungeon (punishment cell).

Akhmedov was beaten up and subjected to inhuman treatment; and on June 16, he was put into the dungeon, Natig Adilov, the head of the press service of the PFPA, has stated.

According to his story, the next day Akhmedov was released from the dungeon and threatened to be sent to the Gobustan Prison. Mr Adilov has linked the pressure on Akhmedov with the fact that "they cannot break him."

Elshan Gasanov, head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners, has noted that earlier in Azerbaijan, they used to toughen punishments to political prisoners.

"Usually, this happens to those, who have especially angered authorities, or oppose the unwritten rules in colonies and gain authority among prisoners. There were cases of transfer to the Gobustan Prison of Movsum Samedov, the leader of the Islamic Party; Abgyul Suleimanov, a theologian, convicted within the "Nardaran case"; Djakhad Babakishizde and others," Mr Gasanov has stated.