On the 19th day of the hunger strike, Saleh Rustamov's health deteriorated sharply

Baku/24.11.21/Turan: On the 19th day of the hunger strike in the prison hospital, the health of the former head of the Executive Power of the Gadabay region, Saleh Rustamov, deteriorated sharply, said his sister Yegana Rustamova after meeting with her brother on November 24 in a penitentiary institution.

“We saw each other through a glass partition. Saleh's voice sounded weak; his speech was abrupt. He did not even speak, but hoarse and was barely audible. Saleh health is serious. I was only able to explain to him the need to end the hunger strike, I asked him about it. And he made it clear with a gesture of his hand that he would go to the end,” said E. Rustamova.

The day before, Rustamov told his lawyer that  on November 26 he would start a dry hunger strike if his demand for release was not fulfilled.

Human rights defenders, prominent representatives of civil society, journalists, representatives of international organizations have already addressed the country's leadership with an appeal to release Rustamov. In defense of Rustamov, a campaign has been launched on social networks.

* A supporter of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, Saleh Rustamov, was arrested in May 2018 and sentenced to 7 years 3 months in prison in the so-called case of “illegal financing of the Popular Front Party”. Human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner. Subsequently, the Supreme Court reduced the sentence by 2 months. Since November 6, he has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding his release. —03B06-