Bagirzade's brother states non-admission of relatives to activist

Zeinal Bagirzade, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), behaves passively at his trial; and relatives fear that he is under pressure, said his brother Bagirsoy Bagirzade.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Zeinal Bagirzade was detained in November 2015. According to investigators, he had rendered resistance to the authorities.

In December 2015, Zeinal Bagirzade was put on the list of political prisoners, drafted by Azerbaijani civil society activists. In total, the list has 93 names.

Bagirsoy fears that his brother may be subjected to physical and psychological pressure.

"Zeinal is an emotional person; and he always actively defended his rights. However, he looks somehow wilted in the courtroom. He speaks sluggishly. He begins talking about one thing, then slips to another and forgets what he wanted to say. We suspect that he is given some psychotropic drugs," said Bagirsoy.

Since Bagirzade's arrest, he is not allowed to meet his relatives. They complained to the court and the prison service, but no permit to see Zeinal was granted, Bagirsoy has added.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.