Rights defenders fail to persuade Salekh Rustamov to stop his hunger strike

The health condition of Salekh Rustamov, an activist, who is on a hunger strike demanding his release from jail in Azerbaijan, is deteriorating. The human rights activists who visited him tried to persuade him to stop his hunger strike, but he is adamant, said his advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 6, Salekh Rustamov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), went on a hunger strike, protesting against the fact that he had no fallen under the amnesty. NGOs and rights defenders asked the country's president to release Rustamov. On the 25th day of his hunger strike, Salekh announced his intention to refuse from drinking water. On December 1, a rally in his support was held in Baku, where the police detained 40 protesters.

"He can't sleep at night because of pains. Other problems have already arisen in his body," said Bakhruz Bairamov, his advocate.

"Rights defenders have urged Rustamov to stop his hunger strike, but he is adamant not only to go on, but this week intends to switchover to a dry hunger strike. According to the advocate, Rustamov will not allow him to be fed by force.

The advocate has added that the government has not yet reacted to numerous appeals made by intellectuals, leaders of NGOs, political parties and international organizations demanding to release Rustamov.