Abzas Media journalists end hunger strike

Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova have stopped their hunger strike due to the deteriorating health of their parents, who are worried about them. The administration of the pretrial detention center refuses to accept parcels, Vagifgizi's mother reported.

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, convicted Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli announced an indefinite hunger strike in protest against his transfer to the Umbaki penitentiary complex, where he is deprived of meetings with his loved ones. On July 22, Vagifgizi, Gasimova and Absalamova joined his protest at Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1.

Convicted Abzas Media journalists end hunger strike. "The parents of each of us suffer from cardiovascular diseases. After we went on a hunger strike, they began to frequently visit medical institutions. Considering their health condition, we are ending the hunger strike," the journalists said in an appeal received by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent from their colleagues.

The girls also appealed to the director of Abzas Media, Ulvi Gasanli, so that he would also stop the action considering his mother's cardiovascular disease.

Vagifgizi's mother, Ofelia Magerramova, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that during the hunger strike, no parcels were accepted for her daughter.

 "I was in the pretrial detention center last Saturday (July 25). They did not accept personal things, a fan. The head of the pretrial detention center personally imposed the ban. My daughter is not given a change of clothes, hygiene products. The head says that “since you write articles about us from here,” you will not get anything,” said Magerramova.

Magerramova emphasized that she suffers from cardiovascular disease and is very worried about her daughter.

"I went to the doctor, but after Sevinj went on a hunger strike, I left treatment, I only care about her. But my daughter is being tortured there. In the heat, they do not give ventilator. She starved for a week, but there was no medical care," continued Magerramova.

Representatives of the Penitentiary Service were unavailable for comment.

You can read about who the publication's high-profile anti-corruption investigations were dedicated to in the "Caucasian Knot" reference "Why Abzas Media Displeased the Azerbaijani Authorities".