Azerbaijan: investigation into the death of former political prisoner completed

The investigation of the fact of death at the prison hospital in Azerbaijan of former political prisoner Faina Kungurova is over. The case is closed since the final conclusion runs that she died a natural death.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed at the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan that under the conclusion of the forensic-medical examination, Ms Kungurova died from an acute cardiovascular insufficiency, and, consequently, since there was no external influence in her death, the Prosecutor's Office has refused to initiate a criminal case on the fact.

Let us note here that Faina Kungurova was an activist of the Democratic Party. Several years ago she was sentenced to imprisonment but subsequently pardoned under pressure of international organizations.

On October 6, 2007, Kungurova was arrested again under the pretext that she was standing in a suspicious place along the route of the presidential cortege. When searching her bag, the police found a photo of Rasul Guliev, ex-speaker of Azerbaijani Parliament and leader of the Democratic Party. This photo was the real reason of Kungurova's detention, as her relatives keep asserting. Later, her apartment was searched, and, allegedly, some drugs were found.

On October 19, Kungurova was placed to the prison hospital, and on November 18 she complained of heart pains and soon died before doctors could come to examine her.

According to human rights activist Elchin Bekhbudov, while in detention Kungurova rejected to take meals.