Polad Aslanov's wife sends his complaint about colony situation to 20 diplomatic missions

On July 13, the wife of Polad Aslanov, an Azerbaijani journalist, sent his complaint about pressure and extortions in the colony to the email addresses of more than 20 foreign embassies.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 16, 2020, the court sentenced Polad Aslanov, the editor-in-chief of the Internet editions "Xeberman.com" and "Press-az.com", to 16 years in prison within the treason case. The Court of Appeal (CoA) has upheld the verdict. Aslanov shares a cell with 17 inmates and is exposed to pressure, his wife said. On July 12, the journalist went on a hunger strike in protest against pressure on him and extortions in the colony. He also called on the diplomatic mission officials to visit him.

Gyulmira Aslanova said that on July 13 she sent her husband's complaint to more than 20 embassies of foreign countries, including the USA and the leading members of the European Union (EU). "But so far, no response has been received from them," she said.

Rufat Safarov, the executive secretary of the NGO "Defence Line", is sure that in the penitentiary institutions violations of inmates' rights, torture and extortions are widespread. "We believe that Polad Aslanov was arrested on trumped-up charges. Those who fight for fair conditions and inmates' rights in jails have a hard time. I myself was tortured for this," Mr Safarov has stated.