Fazil Gasimov is on a hunger strike for the 38th day

Istanbul University doctoral student, economist Fazil Gasimov has been on hunger strike for 38 days in the Baku pre-trial detention center. He is protesting against an illegal arrest.

"Fazil's  health is very serious, despite being placed in a pre-trial detention facility," his brother Nazim Gasimov said. According to him, during a telephone conversation, the voice of F.Gasimov was so quiet that it was barely audible.

In turn, lawyer Rovshana Rahimova said that this week the materials of the criminal case against F.Gasimov will be sent to court.

* Fazil Gasimov was detained in Türkiye on August 7, 2023, brought to Azerbaijan and charged under Article 204.3.1 (manufacture, purchase or sale of counterfeit money as part of an organized group) of the Criminal Code. The investigation claims that he handed over counterfeit money to opposition politician Gubad Ibadoglu, who was later arrested.

Recently, Gasimov, in his appeal to the Prosecutor General, the Ombudswoman, the local and international community, stated that he gave these statements under torture. He retracted these statements, saying that he had not given Ibadoglu counterfeit money, and had never had discussions with him on FETO (the movement of preacher Fethullah Gulen, recognized in Türkiye as a terrorist organization).

Since June 14, Gasimov has been on a hunger strike to protest against unjustified criminal prosecution and torture at the beginning of the investigation.