Polad Aslanov complains about pressure in colony

The journalist, Polad Aslanov, convicted in Azerbaijan within the case of high treason, is in a cell with 17 other prisoners and is exposed to pressure, his wife said and called on the Ombudsperson to help preventing the violation of Aslanov's rights in the colony.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 16, 2020, the court sentenced Polad Aslanov, the editor-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Internet editions "Xeberman.com" and "Press-az.com", to 16 years in prison within the case of treason. On February 1, the journalist went on a hunger strike demanding a fair trial and transfer to house arrest. But the appellate court upheld the verdict.

Polad Aslanov is under pressure and persecutions in the colony, his wife, Gyulmira Aslanova, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to the wife, Polad is not given newspapers; and he is in fact in an information blockade. "He is being held in a cell along with 17 other prisoners. Most of them are convicted under grave articles, including terrorism and participation in warfare in Syria," Ms Aslanova has stated, adding that she had informed the Ombudsperson's Office, the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Penitentiary Service about the pressure on her husband.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 31, 2021 at 06:53 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.