Fazil Gasimov has been on hunger strike in jail for the 26th day

Economist scientist Fazil Gasimov, who is being held in Baku pre-trial detention center-1, continues his hunger strike on the 26th day. He has stopped eating since June 14 in protest against his arrest and demands his release from prison. On July 9, F.Gasimov was met  with his brother Nazim Gasimov in the Baku pre-trial detention center-1.

"We communicated with Fasil through a glass partition. His health is very serious. Fasil had lost so much weight that he looked as if he had dried up. He was left skin to bone. His voice was very soft from weakness. An hour before the meeting, his blood pressure was measured, and it turned out to be at a critical level - 65 over 40. He is still being held in the common cell of the pre-trial detention center," N. Gasimov told the Turan news agency. At the same time, according to N. Gasimov, the scientist insists on continuing the deadly hunger strike.

He appealed to the public not to remain indifferent to the fate of his brother. "Our family asks anybody, any structure, any official, as well as international organizations to help save my brother from death. We have previously appealed to the presidential administration, the Prosecutor General, the Minister of Internal Affairs, and asked for help in the release of my brother. But there is no reaction. We only receive notifications that the emails have reached the recipient. And the courts do not satisfy the lawyers' requests to transfer Fazil to house arrest," N.Gasimov said.

A doctoral student at Istanbul University, economist Fazil Gasimov was detained on August 7, 2023 and taken to Azerbaijan, where he was charged under Article 204.3.1 (manufacture, acquisition or sale of counterfeit money as part of an organized group) of the Criminal Code. Gasimov's testimony to the investigation alleges that he handed over counterfeit money to opposition politician Gubad Ibadoglu, who is currently under police supervision.

Recently, Gasimov, in his appeal to the Prosecutor General, the Ombudsman, the local and international community, stated that he gave these statements under torture. He refused these statements, saying that he had not given Ibadoglu counterfeit money, had never had discussions with him on the topics of FETO (the movement of preacher Fethullah Gulen, recognized in Turkey as a terrorist organization) and religious issues. Since June 14, Gasimov has been on a hunger strike to protest against unjustified criminal prosecution and torture during the initial period of the investigation.