Health of prisoner on hunger strike Gasanli has worsened

The health of Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli has worsened against the backdrop of the hunger strike. He was placed in solitary confinement.

As "Kavkazsky Uzel" reported, on June 20, a court in Baku sentenced journalists and employees of the Azerbaijani online publication Abzas Media to long terms. The director of the publication Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, economist Farid Mehralizade received 9 years in prison, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gaimova - 8 years, and Mohammed Kekalov - 7 years. On July 20, the convicted director of Abzas Media Ulvi Hasanli announced an indefinite hunger strike in protest against his transfer to the penitentiary complex in Umbaki, where he is deprived of meetings with his loved ones. On July 22, Vagifgizi, Gasimova and Absalamova joined his action in Baku SIZO-1.

After the hunger strike, Gasanli's health began to deteriorate, he fainted on the second day of the action - July 21, but despite this he was put in a punishment cell, the journalist's relatives told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. In five days of the hunger strike, Gasanli lost 6 kg - from 78 kg to 68 kg. At the same time, the journalist is not receiving any medical assistance, Gasanli's relative noted.

Abzas Media editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, who along with other convicted employees of the publication Elnara Gasimova and Nargiz Absalamova went on a hunger strike in solidarity with Gasanli, also began to feel unwell.

Vagifgizi lost 2 kg in three days, the journalist's mother Ofelia Magerramova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent after a telephone conversation with her daughter on July 25.

Representatives of the Azerbaijani penitentiary service were not available for comment.