04 December 2020, 11:28
Court agrees to consider transfer of Azerbaijani journalist Sadygov to house arrest
Azerbaijani journalist, Afghan Sadygov, has been on hunger strike at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) for 30 days. A court in Baku has scheduled the consideration of a motion for his transfer to house arrest for December 4.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 3, Sadygov was sentenced to seven years in prison. The next day, the journalist went on a hunger strike, and on November 23, he even refused to drink water, his wife said. According to the advocate, relatives cannot visit Sadygov, because it is difficult for the weak journalist to walk. The court protracts with consideration of the petition to transfer Sadygov to house arrest, his defence asserts.
According to investigators, Afghan Sadygov, the editor-in-chief of the "Azel.tv" portal, and Sakit Muradov, the head of the "Xəbərfakt.az" website had met some Sumgait officials and demanded from them 15,000 manats (about USD 9000) under a threat of publishing incriminating data. They were detained while receiving 10,000 manats (about USD 6000). The Union "For Freedom of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners" has recognized Sadygov as a political prisoner.
Afghan Sadygov continues his hunger strike, his advocate, Elchin Sadygov, has informed. "According to the law, they can start feeding him by force. But Afghan has conveyed that in this case he will commit suicide," said the advocate.
Even a healthy person finds it difficult to endure more than three days of dry hunger strike, said Magomed Bibalaev, a doctor of a Moscow clinic. According to his story, if a person drinks water, he/she can withstand about a month-long hunger strike.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 3, 2020 at 06:19 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
