Bakhruz Samedov complained about the restriction of his rights in prison.

Researcher Bahruz Samedov, convicted in Azerbaijan, is being denied access to a notary to issue a power of attorney to manage the property of his only relative.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," in mid-November, the administration of Correctional Facility No. 11 appealed to the court to increase Bahruz Samedov's sentence and transfer him to the closed section of the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex. On December 1, the court upheld the appeal, ordering his transfer to the maximum security section of the closed Umbaki Prison for one year. In mid-December, the international academic network Scholars at Risk appealed to the Azerbaijani leadership to release Samedov.

Bakhruz Samedov is being prevented from issuing a power of attorney to his grandmother, Zibeyda Osmanova, to manage his property, activist Amrakh Takhmazov told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

To issue a power of attorney, a notary must be invited to visit Samedov at the correctional facility, but this is being denied. According to Takhmazov, Samedov filed a complaint in court, but was unable to enforce his rights: the court of first instance and then the Baku Court of Appeal rejected the activist's appeals.

"Bahruz still has money in his bank account from the previously sold apartment of his parents, but while in prison, he cannot manage it. He wants to grant power of attorney to his grandmother so she can withdraw money from the account. Bahruz is inconvenienced by the fact that he has to rely on his 83-year-old grandmother's pension and assistance of 20-30 manats (approximately $12-18 USD) from friends and relatives to cover his needs in prison. Bahruz wants to grant power of attorney only so that his grandmother can periodically withdraw small amounts from his account for his needs. "Grandmother's pension is small, and Bahruz wants her to use some of the money for her own needs," Takhmazov said. Zibeyda Osmanova confirmed to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that her grandson is being prevented from granting her a power of attorney. "Bahruz is innocent; he merely called for peace, and reconciliation is currently underway between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Various cargo is transported to Armenia through Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan sends fuel to Armenia. Why then isn't Bahruz released, creating new difficulties for him even in prison?" Osmanova was indignant. Depriving a convicted person of access to notary services is unlawful, noted a Baku-based lawyer who wished to remain anonymous. "An arrested or already convicted person has the right to access notary services to grant a power of attorney for the purpose of representing their interests. "This right may only be limited for a very short time and in exceptional cases during the preliminary investigation in the interests of the investigation in order to completely isolate the accused, but no limitation applies to someone already convicted," the legal expert told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was unable to obtain comment from the Azerbaijani Penitentiary Service.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that on December 18, the European Parliament adopted a resolution "On the arbitrary arrest and sentencing of scientists Bahruz Samedov and Igbal Abilov in Azerbaijan." The authors of the resolution called on Baku to release Samedov and Abilov.