Former diplomat on hunger strike for third day in pretrial detention center

Former diplomat Emin Ibragimov has been on hunger strike for three days in Shuvelan pre-trial detention center, protesting against his unjustified arrest.

Lawyer Agyl Laij, who visited him on 26 July, told Turan, reported that Ibragimov looked pale, his condition worsened, and headaches appeared. Nevertheless, Ibragimov intends to fast until his release.

According to his lawyer, no medical assistance is provided to his client.

Ibragimov is kept in a cell designed for 4-5 people, but there are 10 prisoners, and there are no conditions even for sleeping.

The lawyer filed an appeal against the arrest.

Recall that Ibragimov was detained on 22 July. Two days later he was charged under Articles 126.2.4 (causing serious damage to health from hooligan motives) and 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code.

According to his lawyer, the police claim that Ibragimov stabbed Kyamal Shukurov, a resident of Garachukhur settlement.

However, according to Ibragimov, a stranger attacked him near the Khalglar Dostlugu metro station and began tearing his clothes. Seconds later, plainclothes policemen appeared and detained Ibragimov.

He told his lawyer that the man was brought to the scene in an ambulance.

On 24 July, the Nizami court remanded Ibragimov in custody for four months.

* Ibragimov graduated from Ankara University in 2005 with a master's degree in international relations. In 2009, he attended the NATO Defense College Advanced Course.

Between 2007 and 2020 Ibragimov was in the diplomatic service: from 2012-2016 he was the second secretary of the Azerbaijani Embassy in the United States; from 2016-2020 he was the Charge d'Affaires of Azerbaijan in Uruguay.

In protest against the rigging of the 2020 Parliamentary elections. Ibragimov resigned from the diplomatic service.  After that, he engaged in analytical work, making comments in the media and social networks.

Ibragimov sharply criticized the authorities for deteriorating relations with the West and rapprochement with Russia and other authoritarian states.

In September 2023, Ibragimov was administratively arrested for 30 days for publishing an article titled: "Politics Playing into Russia’s Hands".-