Mekhman Guseinov. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

28 December 2018, 01:11

Azerbaijani blogger Mekhman Guseinov goes on hunger strike in a penal colony

Blogger Mekhman Guseinov, suspected of beating a penal colony warder two months before the release, has been transferred to a punishment cell. He has refused to testify and went on a hunger strike, relatives and friends of the prisoner report. An advocate of Mekhman Guseinov complained that she was not allowed to visit the defendant.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 3, 2017, Mekhman Guseinov was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on the charge of defamation for claiming torture after detention. Mekhman Guseinov failed to achieve the early release. On December 26, the Penitentiary Service stated that two months before the end of the imprisonment term, Mekhman Guseinov beat a penal colony warder. Rights defenders believe that a new case was instituted against Mekhman Guseinov out of revenge for his opposition statements, in an attempt to prevent him from leaving the penal colony.

Mekhman Guseinov published a video on Facebook about corrupt officials.

On December 26, Mekhman Guseinov was placed to a punishment cell for 10 days, reported his brother Emin Guseinov, the executive director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS).

"He claimed he was under pressure. Mekhman demands an advocate, but the defender was not allowed to visit him ... Mekhman has said that he declares an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the violation of his rights," Emin Guseinov said.

Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, has expressed in Twitter his deep concern over the new criminal prosecution of Mekhman Guseinov.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 27, 2018 at 06:27 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

October 05, 2024 04:15

  • Defendant in case on pogrom at Makhachkala airport pleads not guilty

    Magomednabi Shaikhslamov, involved as a defendant in a case on pogrom at an airport in Makhachkala, claimed that he ended up at the scene of the riots by accident, since he worked as a taxi driver. The video shows Magomednabi Shaikhslamov approaching the police, talking to them and leaving, but investigators accused the man of using violence against a public official.

October 04, 2024 22:56

October 04, 2024 22:48

October 04, 2024 21:18

October 04, 2024 20:15

News archive