Azerbaijani journalist Babali complained about the lack of medical care in the prison colony

Imprisoned investigative journalist Hafiz Babali of the online publication Abzas Media complained about being denied hospitalization due to an infectious disease.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot , on June 20, a court sentenced journalists and staff members of the Azerbaijani online publication Abzas Media to lengthy prison terms. The publication's director, Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and economist Farid Mehralizade received nine years in prison each. Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova received eight years each, and Mohammed Kekalov received seven years. On September 9, an appeals court  upheld the sentences .

Babali, who is serving a sentence at Correctional Facility No. 2, released a statement announcing the worsening of his infectious disease. "The situation with my leg has become very serious. The facility doctor examined my leg and diagnosed me with erysipelas (ed. note: Caucasian Knot). Despite receiving an injection, my condition remains serious," Babali wrote in a statement published on Facebook*. 

However, according to the journalist, he is not being transferred to the sanitary and medical unit of Correctional Institution No. 2 or to another medical facility. "No necessary measures are being taken to continue treatment and keep the situation under control. I call on the relevant authorities to ensure my legal rights to medical care," Babali concludes. 

His relatives also expressed concern for the journalist's condition. "Some time ago, Hafiz Balbala developed serious health problems. He developed bruising and redness on his legs, along with open sores. The prison doctor confirmed the seriousness of the situation, prescribed an injection, and recommended Hafiz Balbala's transfer to the prison's medical unit or a penitentiary service hospital. However, this was not done, and no other treatment is being provided," a relative of Balbala told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He added that Balbala also suffers from varicose veins, but no measures are being taken to treat this condition. The relative also noted that since Balbala's participation in the creation of the Committee for the Defense of Political Prisoners in the prison, visits with family members are held through a glass partition.

In 2024, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan exceeded 300 for the first time since the early 2000s. On October 7, the Union for Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan  published  a new national list of political prisoners, including 392 names. 

The largest increase in prison population occurred over the past year, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report " Key Points on the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan ." However, Azerbaijani authorities  deny the existence  of political prisoners in the country.