Three activists go on hunger strike in support of Mekhman Guseinov

An activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), a member of the board of the "Musavat" Party and the head of the Centre for the Monitoring Political Prisoners have joined the hunger strike of the blogger Mekhman Guseinov, demanding to release him from custody.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Mekhman Guseinov had complained of torture after being detained; and on March 3, 2017, he was sentenced to two years in prison on the charge of defamation. On December 26, 2018, the Azerbaijani Penitentiary Service stated that two months before the end of his prison term, Guseinov beat up a colony employee. On December 26, 2018, Mekhman declared a dry hunger strike, but on December 30, due to a sharp deterioration in his health, he began drinking water. He cannot walk and needs an urgent surgery, Mekhman Guseinov's advocate stated on January 4.

On January 3, Tofig Mamedov, a youth activist of the PFPA, declared a hunger strike in solidarity with Guseinov. "Mekhman is persecuted for exposing corruption. They don't want him out of the prison and continue his work; therefore, they've slandered him. I express my solidarity with Mekhman and demand his release," Mr Mamedov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

On January 4, as a sign of solidarity with the blogger, Tofig Yagublu, a member of the board of the "Musavat" Party and a former political prisoner, went on a hunger strike. "I've started my hunger strike from today with a demand for the release of Mekhman Guseinov and all other political prisoners, whose number reaches 150," Mr Yagublu told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on January 4.

On the same day, Elshan Gasanov, the coordinator of the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan and the head of the Centre for the Monitoring of Political Prisoners, joined the hunger strike. "I join Tofig Yagublu and start my hunger strike demanding the release of Mekhman Guseinov and other political prisoners," Mr Gasanov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 5, 2019 at 09:52 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.