07:18, 12 September 2020

Azerbaijani political prisoner Emin Sagiev stops hunger strike

A banner in support of Emin Sagiev. Screenshot of Azadlıq's page on Facebook Facebook https://web.facebook.com/azadliqqazeti/photos/a.666870143369146/3425509850838481/

Emin Sagiev's defence intends to submit a petition to the Azerbaijani Supreme Court (SC) demanding his release. The consideration may take several weeks; and for this reason the activist has suspended his hunger strike, his advocate has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 18, Emin Sagiev, a relative of the journalist, Tyurkel Azertyurk, went on a hunger strike after the Azerbaijani SC refused to satisfy the appeal against his verdict. Sagiev's wife reported the deterioration of his health due to the hunger strike.

Tyurkel Azertyurk, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was arrested many times after his participation in oppositional protests in 2013-2015. In 2016, he went abroad and collaborated with the oppositional "TuranTV" Channel.

In 2018, Emin Sagiev was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of drug dealing. Azertyurk believes that his relative is being persecuted because of his journalistic activities.

Members of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Human Rights will ask for Sagiev's pardoning, Novella Djafaroglu, a human rights defender, has noted.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 11, 2020 at 09:32 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent