Fazil Gasimov continues his hunger strike on the 31st day

Doctoral student of Istanbul University, economist Fazil Gasimov has been on hunger strike in Baku pre-trial detention center-1 for the 31st day,  a lawyer Rovshana Rahimova stated on  July 15, after a meeting with the Baku pre-trial detention center-1.

"Fazil Gasimov only drinks water. Despite numerous requests to stop the action, he continues his hunger strike. He has serious health problems. He has lost kilograms in weight.  He himself said that he had lost more than 10 kg. He has severe dizziness, it gets dark in his eyes. From weakness, he can no longer maintain his balance. And with all this, according to Gasimov, he has been deprived of medical supervision in recent days. Doctors don't come to him, they don't even measure his blood pressure and weight," Rahimova said.

In this regard, she appealed to the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan. "The Prison Service told me that the problem would be resolved very soon," Rahimova continued. At the same time, Gasimov reacted negatively to an earlier appeal sent by Rahimova's lawyer to the penitentiary service with a request to transfer him to a medical institution of this department.

"Fazil Gasimov said that he did not want to be transferred to the hospital. He had been held in a medical facility of the Penitentiary Service for several months. However, there he experienced severe psychological shocks. He was kept there along with criminals. One of them was a drug addict, and the other was a person who tortured victims in the "Terrorist case". Fazil Gasimov was in this institution, he experienced mental tension and pressure. Therefore, he does not want to be transferred to this hospital, he intends to starve until he is released," Rahimova continued.

According to her, investigative actions will be carried out with Gasimov on July 16. Representatives of the Prison Service were not available for comment.

Fazil Gasimov graduated from the Caucasus University (abolished on January 16, 2017), then studied in Türkiye, completed his doctoral studies at Istanbul University.  Gasimov, an economist living in Türkiye, was detained on August 8, 2023 in Istanbul and taken to Azerbaijan. Fazil Gasimov was detained as part of the investigation of the criminal case initiated against Gubad Ibadoglu and is charged under Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code (manufacture for the purpose of sale, including receiving or selling counterfeit money or foreign currency - when an organized group commits the same acts).