Court of Appeal leaves Afghan Sadygov in custody

The Sumgait Court of Appeal (CoA) has dismissed the defence's motion urging to transfer the journalist, Afghan Sadygov, who has been on his protest hunger strike for 55 days, under house arrest. Sadygov's health condition is critical, said his wife.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 3, Afghan Sadygov was sentenced to seven years in prison. The next day he went on a hunger strike, and on November 23, he even refused to drink water. On the 50th day of his hunger strike, Afghan Sadygov cannot speak, but refuses to stop his action, said his wife.

On December 25, the Sumgait CoA held a preliminary session to consider the appeal against the sentence to Afghan Sadygov. "For his health reasons, Sadygov himself was not brought to the court; and his participation by video link was not provided either," the advocate, Elchin Sadygov, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, the defence asked the court to change his custody for house arrest, but the CoA dismissed the motion.

Afghan Sadygov insists on his release, Sevindj Sadygova, his wife, has stated. "Afghan called this morning. He spoke in a very low voice, said that he wouldn't stop his hunger strike until he was released. The managers of the medical unit of the Penitentiary Service don't forbid out visits; on the contrary, they want us to persuade Afghan to end his hunger strike. Afghan's mother visited him yesterday; she was shocked by her son's health condition. By stubbornly refusing to release Afghan even under house arrest, they doom him to death," Ms Sadygova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 25, 2020 at 08:00 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.