Emin Ibrahimov was isolated from other prisoners and given a meeting with his relatives

Former diplomat Emin Ibrahimov is on hunger strike for the 7th day in the Shuvelan pre-trial detention center-1, lawyer Bahruz Bayramov told Turan after meeting with him on July 30.

The lawyer noted that Ibrahimov was transferred from a cell where there were 16 prisoners, including repeat offenders, to a separate cell. Ibrahimov is currently being held alone, but he was not taken under medical supervision.

On July 29, in the Court of Appeal, Ibrahimov stated that he was being held in an overcrowded cell along with repeat offenders, through whom pressure was being exerted on him, demanding that he stop his hunger strike. According to Ibrahimov, other prisoners were deprived of cigarettes, dates, and telephone conversations. The administration of the pre-trial detention center named Ibrahimov's hunger strike as the reason and demanded that the rest of the prisoners force Ibrahimov to stop his hunger strike.

Today, Ibrahimov was given a meeting with his mother and brother, but he does not intend to stop the hunger strike until the case against him is closed. The lawyer noted that the defense will file a motion to change the preventive measure to house arrest.

In turn, the Department of Public Relations of the Penitentiary Service reported that Ibrahimov had applied for a hunger strike to protest his arrest on July 28.

On July 29, based on the appeal of lawyer Agyl Laidj, he was escorted to the Baku Court of Appeal. Upon returning to the pre-trial detention center, the measures provided for by law were implemented, the commentary of the penitentiary service further says.

"E.Ibrahimov's right to meet with close relatives was not limited, he used the opportunity for telephone conversations, and the allegations of pressure on him do not reflect reality.  He is not subjected to pressure from staff and prisoners, his rights and legitimate interests are protected," the Penitentiary Service confirms.

*Emin Ibrahimov was detained on July 22.

Two days later, Emin Ibrahimov was charged with stabbing Kamal Shukurov, a resident of the village of Garachukhur (Articles 126.2.4, intentional injury to health with the use of weapons) and 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code. He responded to the accusations and linked the criminal case to his criticism of the authorities.

Ex-diplomat Emin Ibrahimov was in the diplomatic service in 2007-2020.  From 2012 to 2016, he worked at the Azerbaijani Embassy in the United States, from 2016 to 2019 – at the diplomatic mission of Azerbaijan in Uruguay.

On March 13, 2020, Emin Ibrahimov submitted his resignation to the Foreign Ministry in protest against the suppression of suffrage and freedoms in the country and retired from diplomatic activity. After that, he criticized the Azerbaijani authorities for violations of citizens' rights and falsifications, speaking in the media and social networks.