A. Mukhtarly Limited Telephone Conversations with His Wife, His Brother Says

Baku / 06.02.19 / Turan: In prison number 16, where journalist Afgan Mukhtarly is serving a sentence, there are poor conditions of detention. This was stated by his brother Ramazan Mukhtarly.

According to him, in the institution heating is supplied only 4 hours a day. As a result, many prisoners are sick and coughing. Fever has become commonplace, said R. Mukhtarly.

There is no medical service in the jail. Those who have the opportunity, buy medicines at their own expense.

"Due to the fact that the cells are cold, treatment does not matter. The prison administration does nothing to remedy the situation," R. Mukhtarly continued.

"There is no normal nutrition. The prison is full. There are 3 people per bed. In the summer, some slept in the hallway. Now everyone sleeps in the cells. Due to the lack of places, they sleep in turns - 4 hours a day," R. Muhtarly noted.

In addition, the journalist is imposed restrictions on telephone conversations with his wife Leyla Mustafayeva, who is in political emigration in Europe.

It is alleged that the international telephone line is closed by Aztelecom due to debts.

"In fact, the true goal is to prevent Afgan"s contacts with his wife, because she covers his problems at the international level and provides information to the media," R. Mukhtarly said.

The head of the public relations department of the Prison Service, Mehman Sadigov, denied the information on the supply of heating only 4 hours a day. According to him, the institution has a Combi system installed and it is heated around the clock.

He does not agree with the statement about poor quality nutrition. According to him, "even patients with diabetes are provided with special food." The number of prisoners is also significantly less than the limit, says Sadigov.

He also denied the information on the restriction of telephone conversations.

* Afgan Mukhtarly was abducted in Tbilisi in May 2017 and secretly transported to Azerbaijan, where he was arrested on charges of smuggling, illegal border crossing and causing bodily harm to a border guard.

In January 2018, Mukhtarly was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Amnesty International has recognized him as a "prisoner of conscience." -06D-