Afiyaddin Mamedov was sent to solitary confinement.

Afiyaddin Mammadov, a member of the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners, established in a Baku penal colony, has been placed in solitary confinement. Another member of this group, Samir Ashurov, was given a disciplinary sanction by the prison administration.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, six prisoners at Colony No. 2 in Baku announced the creation of a "Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners" (CDPP) on November 24. The decision to establish such a group was made given that human rights and freedom violations in Azerbaijan "have reached a critical level and become systematic," according to a statement released by the initiative. The statement was signed by investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, economist Fazil Gasimov, trade union activist Afiyaddin Mamedov, former political emigrant Samir Ashurov, activist Lachin Veliyev and member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Mehman Aliyev. Members of the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners are being pressured, its participants have received threats, and obstacles are being created in communicating with their families, Mamedov said in a statement released on the morning of November 28.

Afiaddin Mamedov, chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan "Workers' Platform," who is serving a prison sentence in Correctional Institution No. 2, has been placed in solitary confinement, his associate Sara Rahimova reported.

"Afiaddin Mamedov has been placed in solitary confinement in Correctional Institution No. 2. Based on information he sent, a provocation is being prepared against him," Rahimova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Mamedov also He reported that pressure was being exerted on him in connection with publicizing negative events in the colony, facts of violation of prisoners' rights, as well as his participation in the creation of the KZPZ in the colony, she noted.

Mamedov's placement in solitary confinement was also confirmed by the wife of another KZPZ member, Samir Ashurov.

"Samir was summoned to the head of the colony and given a written disciplinary sanction. And Afiyaddin Mamedov was placed in solitary confinement, and he assumed that a provocation was being prepared against him. Are political prisoners really so scary that even in prison people are afraid of them?" Nurana Ashurova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Representatives of the penitentiary service were unavailable for comment.

In 2024, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan exceeded 300 for the first time since the early 2000s. On October 7, the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan published a new national list of political prisoners, including 392 names.

The largest increase in prisoners occurred over the past year, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Key Points About the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan". At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities deny the presence of political prisoners in the country.