18:58, 4 February 2008

Arrested Mirza Sakit restarts his hunger strike in Azerbaijan

On February 3, journalist-satirist Mirza Sakit who is imprisoned in Azerbaijan has renewed his protest hunger strike against the refusal of the prison administration to transfer him to the prison hospital despite his poor health condition.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the Committee to Protect Journalists that M. Sakit's condition is grave; in particular, he has problems with his legs.

The PR Division of the Penitentiary Service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice has confirmed this information. According to their data, the prisoner wrote an application to the prison managers that he would start his hunger strike on February 3.

We remind you that M. Sakit announced his hunger strike on January 26 with a demand to place him into the medical establishment. On January 28, he stopped his hunger-strike, since the administration promised to fulfil his request.

Author: Rafael Gasanov, CK correspondent