Advocate reports serious deterioration of Sadygov's health

Afghan Sadygov, an Azeri journalist, who is kept at the SIZO (pre-trial prison), rejects intravenous injections of nutrients; his health condition is very grave, said Zibeida Sadygova, an advocate, citing the wife of Afghan Sadygov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the medical staff of the SIZO began administering intravenous food into Sadygov. On November 3, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, on the next day, he went on a hunger strike, and on November 23, he even refused to drink water. On December 5, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) refused to place Sadygov under house arrest, despite his grave health condition.

“On December 18, Sevindj Sadygova spoke with Afghan by phone. He could hardly speak; there was a feeling that he was almost in a coma," said the advocate.

They began doing intravenous injections to Sadygov only after he lost consciousness due to the hunger strike, Elchin Sadygov, another advocate, has added. "He can no longer walk on his own; they transport him in a wheelchair. He rejected the forced nutrition, but doctors give him glucose injections so that he does not die," said the advocate.

According to the laws of Azerbaijan, in case a hunger-striker loses consciousness, doctors must render emergency medical help, said Adil Bekirov, a lawyer. For failure to render help to a prisoner, penitentiary employees may face criminal liability.

A person can live for a long time due to droppers with nutrients, even if this procedure is applied to him once a day, said Magomed Bibalaev, a doctor.