HRH calls on Azerbaijani President to interfere in blogger Mekhman Guseinov's case

The new charges against the blogger Mekhman Guseinov should be dropped; while independent doctors should assess his health condition after the hunger strike, the Human Rights House (HRH) has stated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 26, 2018, Guseinov went on a hunger strike in the colony in protest against the new criminal case.

The HRH Foundation has expressed concern that Guseinov's statements about his kidnapping and torture have not been investigated. There is evidence that since August 2018 the blogger has been exposed to psychological pressure in the colony, the appeal says.

Rights defenders believe that the persecution of the blogger is politically motivated and associated with the spread of information about corruption in Azerbaijan.

The release of Guseinov must occur no later than March 2, the HRH has urged.

Earlier, Dunya Miyatovic, the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, the French Foreign Ministry, an OSCE representative, the "Reporters Without Borders" international organization in defence of the freedom of journalists, and the human rights organization Amnesty International, have called for the release of Guseinov. In his turn, Siyavush Novruzov, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling "Eni Azerbaijan" Party, has accused "anti-national groups and their foreign patrons" of an attempt to launch an anti-Azerbaijani campaign.