Fazil Gasymov continues his hunger strike in jail for 25th day

Istanbul University doctoral student, economist Fazil Gasymov continues his hunger strike in Baku pre-trial detention center-1 for the 25th day. This was reported to Turan by his brother Nazim Gasymov.

"Yesterday, Fazil called from the pre-trial detention center. I begged him on behalf of our family to stop the hunger strike. However, despite his serious health condition, he was adamant. His voice was very low, Fazil was barely audible.He said that his blood pressure had dropped sharply, his eyes were getting dark, and his dizziness had increased,” N. Gasymov said. According to him, despite the hunger strike, F.Gasymov is kept in a common cell, and doctors come to him only to measure blood pressure.

Gasymov insists on his release from prison. "Fasil said that he would starve to the end – he would either be released or something irreparable would happen to him..We are very worried about him. We don't want to lose him," N. Gasymov said. In turn, Gasymov's lawyer Rovshana Rahimova told Turan that she discussed the health situation of F.Gasymov with leadership of the pre-trial detention center.

According to her, the prison authorities stated that F.Gasymov's health condition is "under medical supervision." The lawyer was assured that in the coming days, together with the main medical department of the Ministry of Justice, the issue of Gasymov’s transfer will be resolved.

Gasyimov was taken to a medical institution of the penitentiary service. Note that the prison service could not be reached for comment.

As a reminder, a doctoral student at Istanbul University, economist Fazil Gasymov 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.

In Gasymov's testimony to the investigation, it is alleged that he handed over counterfeit money to the opposition politician Gubad Ibadoglu, who is currently under police supervision.

Recently, Gasymov, in his appeal to the Prosecutor General, the Ombudsman, the local and international community, stated that he gave these statements under torture.He declined from these statements as saying that he had not given counterfeit money to Ibadogly, nor had discussions with him on the topics of FETO (movement of preacher Fethullah Gulen, recognized in Turkey as a terrorist organization) and religious issues. Since June 14, Gasymov has been on a hunger strike to protest against unjustified criminal prosecution and torture during the initial period of the investigation.