Caspian Wire: Political Prisoners Face Continued Ill-Treatment | July 2024
Political prisoners face continued ill-treatment alongside bogus charges: medical denials, prolonged hunger strikes, and worsening disabilities
Alasgar Mammadli, the founder of Tolum TV, faces severe mistreatment as a political prisoner, notably through the denial of essential medical care. Despite medical findings indicating a thyroid condition, he has been repeatedly denied necessary biopsies and medical examinations at Baku Investigative Detention Center No 1. Subsequently, Mammadli was taken to a predetermined private medical institution to undergo medical checks whereas the number of officers in plain clothes prevented doctors from undertaking full examination as previously recommended. Despite the result of the check indicating a benign tumor, his family finds it hard to rely on the results and have raised alarm over the authorities’ refusal to permit a court-ordered biopsy, crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Mammadli’s arrest, linked to his media activities and criticism of government policies, includes charges of alleged involvement in currency smuggling, which he and his supporters vehemently deny as politically motivated. His family members later reported deteriorated health conditions of Mr Mammadli during his trial of 12th of July.
As of 12th of July, Fazil Gasimov, a doctoral candidate at Istanbul University, has been on a hunger strike for 29 days at Baku Investigative Detention Center No. 1, protesting against his detention and mistreatment. Detained on August 7, 2023, under charges of producing, acquiring, or selling counterfeit currency as part of a criminal group, Gasimov indicates that his confession implicating opposition politician Gubad İbadoghlu was coerced under torture. Gasimov, who has a history of stomach surgery, has experienced a sharp decline in his health due to the hunger strike. He has been involved in various initiatives, including conducting economic research with Ibadoghlu, whose work exposing corruption in Azerbaijan led to his arrest and partial freedom later on. Despite ongoing medical oversight, authorities have not transferred Gasimov to a medical facility, and his lawyer has reported severe ill-treatment. Gasimov calls for international support to end political repression in Azerbaijan, highlighting the severe human rights violations he endures.
Disabled activist and political prisoner Famil Khalilov – conditioned with cerebral palsy – reportedly suffers from severe deterioration in his hands while in detention. His spouse disclosed that Khalilov ceased his hunger strike on May 17th, 2024 at Baku Investigative Detention Center No. 1 after assurances of fair treatment, but he stated he would resume indefinitely if promises were not kept. Khalilova noted additional health issues, stating, “At home, I cared for his crippled arms, washing and medicating them. Now, with his hands bound, his fingers have started to rot, as informed by doctors at the detention center.” Khalilov remains detained in the medical-sanitary unit of the detention center, receiving necessary medications, though information on his health from the Penitentiary Service is unavailable. Arrested in May 2024 under Article 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code (production, transportation, and storage of large quantities of narcotics for sale), Khalilov’s family asserts his innocence, claiming he is punished for his activism and social media posts demanding justice.
The named cases are just recent ones among others occasionally reporting ill-treatment in detention facilities indicating long-standing patterns against politically persecuted individuals in Azerbaijan.