Journalist Aslanov continues his hunger strike at SIZO despite health problems

For the second day, Polad Aslanov, an Azerbaijani journalist, has been on a hunger strike demanding to objectively consider his appeal against the verdict in a high treason case. 19 months he spent at SIZO (pre-trial prison), have undermined his health, his wife asserts.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 1, Polad Aslanov, the editor-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Internet editions "Xeberman.com" and "Press-az.com", sentenced to 16 years in prison under a high treason case, went on a hunger strike while the court was considering his appeal complaint. He claimed that the court of appeal was deliberately protracting the consideration of his complaint, demanded a fair trial and transfer from SIZO to house arrest.

According to Gyulmira Aslanova, Polad's wife, he continues his hunger strike. "Polad is on a hunger strike, but he drinks water. In general, over the 19 months in SIZO his health condition has deteriorated sharply. His body weight was small; and by now he has lost his body weight down to 44 kg. Due to his stay in custody, his medical treatment is delayed; he suffers from a cardiovascular disease," said his wife.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 2, 2021 at 08:50 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.