Hunger-striker Emin Sagiev placed in colony's medical unit

Emin Sagiev, recognized as a political prisoner, who has been on a hunger strike in the Azerbaijani colony since August 18, has been transferred to the colony's medical-sanitary unit. There, he was visited by employees of the Ombudsperson's office, who provided him with legal advice.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in October 2018, Emin Sagiev (Shagiev), a relative of the journalist, Tyurkel Azertyurk, was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of drug dealing. Azertyurk believes that his relative is persecuted because of his journalistic activities in oppositional mass media abroad. After the refusal of the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan to satisfy the cassation complaint against the verdict, on August 18, 2020, Sagiev announced a hunger strike insisting on his innocence and demanding his release. On August 28, Sagiev's wife, Aigun Sagieva, stated a deterioration of his health due to the hunger strike.

According to Aigun, on September 1, Emin called home. "A day earlier, his colony friend called and said that Emin was really bad. Today (September 1) Emin called himself. He said that his blood tension dropped, and his heart and kidney pains became stronger. After our appeal to the office of the Ombudsperson, Emin received a call and a promise to visit him. After that, Emin was finally placed into the colony's medical-sanitary unit," Ms Sagieva said on September 1.

Nevertheless, according to her story, her husband continues his hunger strike. "We asked him to take care of his health. Emin is hunger-striking for the 14th day. He says there is no other way out. Indeed, he is kept in jail for no reason for three years; and there are still four years left," said Aigun Sagieva.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 2, 2020 at 07:48 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.