CPJ calls on Azerbaijan to release journalist Ikram Ragimov

Ikram Ragimov, an Azerbaijani journalist, who continues his hunger strike in SIZO (pre-trial prison), complains about health problems, his brother reports. Ikram Ragimov is sentenced for his professional activities and should be released, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) declares.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 12, in Baku, the court found Ikram Ragimov, the editor-in-chief of the "Realliq.info" website, guilty of extortion of money and sentenced him to 5.5 years of imprisonment. On August 7, the sentenced journalist went on hunger strike and demanded an objective review of his appeal against the verdict. On the 20th day of his hunger strike, Ikram Ragimov said that he was not able to move independently.

"He's got dizziness, and his legs fail. Ikram has lost a lot of weight," said Galib Gasanov, a journalist's cousin.

The Azerbaijani authorities should immediately release Ikram Ragimov and stop prosecuting journalists for their professional activities, the CPJ declares.

According to the NGO, Ikram Ragimov was arrested after he "had released an article on corruption."

Let us remind you that on June 22, the CPJ condemned the Azerbaijani authorities for politically motivated arrests of journalists, including Ikram Ragimov. The human rights defenders demanded from the country's authorities to stop pressure on freedom of speech.