Journalist Afghan Mukhtarly goes on hunger strike

During his visit to the journalist, Afgan Mukhtarly, who is kept in an Azerbaijani jail, his advocate, Nemat Kerimli, complained about violence and pressure. The convicted journalist has gone on a hunger strike, demanding an objective investigation into the complaints lodged by his advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in May 2017, Afghan Mukhtarly, who emigrated to Georgia in 2014, was kidnapped there and brought to Baku by force. In January 2018, a court sentenced him to six years in prison on charges of illegal border crossing, smuggling, and resistance to a law enforcer.

On September 22, Mukhtarly went on a hunger strike, Samir Asadli, his public defender and the coordinator of the "Nida" movement, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Mukhtarly is protesting against the search conducted last Friday (on September 20) in the colony of his advocate, Nemat Kerimli, when he was exposed to physical pressure, and his notes made at the meeting with his client were reviewed by colony bosses," Mr Asadli has stated.

The journalist has stated that violence is applied to colony inmates, but their complaints are ignored. He demanded that the Azerbaijan President, Ilham Aliev, provided an objective investigation of the incident.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 22, 2019 at 12:42 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.