Convicted Azerbaijani journalist loses 15 kg during hunger strike
The condition of the arrested director of Abzas Media Ulvi Hasanli, who has been on hunger strike since July 20, is causing serious concern. His wife, Rubaba Guliyeva, reported a significant weight loss (15 kg) and deterioration in the journalist's health.
According to her, Hasanli is being held in inappropriate conditions, which only aggravates the situation. He has breathing problems, rapid heartbeat, kidney stones and low blood pressure. Hasanli's family claims that he is not receiving the necessary medical care, which puts his life at risk.
Recall that in June, a Baku court sentenced Hasanli to 9 years in prison. The editor-in-chief of Abzas Media Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and economist Farid Mehralizade received the same terms. Other journalists were given slightly shorter prison terms: Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova – 8 years each, Mohammed Kekalov – 7 years.
They were initially accused of smuggling foreign currency. Then the charges were toughened: illegal entrepreneurship on a large scale, legalization of criminal proceeds by an organized group, falsification of documents, group tax evasion. The journalists deny their guilt and claim that they are being persecuted for investigating facts of corruption in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan.
