15:27, 13 October 2008

In Azerbaijan, imprisoned journalist Fatullaev put into dungeon

On Sunday, October 12, advocate Isakhan Ashurov visited his client, Einullah Fatullaev, former editor-in-chief of the "Real Azerbaijan" newspaper, who is serving his term in colonies No. 12 situated in Gyuzdek village. The visit was caused by the fact that on October 10 Mr Fatullaev was placed into a punishment cell (dungeon).

Advocate Ashurov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent later that another inmate had provoked Fatullaev to an incident. The lawyer finds "placement into dungeon to be an excessive punishment, which does not meet the gravity of the offence."

In his turn, Mekhman Sadykhov, head of the PR department of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the cause of the punishment was "a scandal between the journalist and another prisoner." The verbal skirmish did not grow into a fight, the brawler were taken apart. The other prisoner was also put into dungeon.

In Sadykhov's words, there was no other reason to isolate the journalist. He has reminded that inmates are placed in dungeon for five days.

Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent