After promises to review case, Zamin Salayev ends hunger strike on 115th day

Baku/01.06.23/Turan: Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan activist Alizamin Salayev has ended his hunger strike on the 115th day. He agreed to suspend the action after promises that his appeal would be fairly investigated. Jeyhun Novruzov, head of the Sabail district organisation of the PPFA, told the Turan news agency on 1 June.

"Today, Zamin Salayev called from the prison hospital. He said that he stopped his hunger strike this morning after he was promised that his appeal against the sentence would be reviewed objectively," Novruzov said.  He did not specify who made those promises.

In general, Salayev's condition remains grave. He has lost 50 kg in weight and is surviving on medicine and nutrients administered at the hospital.

Zamin said if the appeals court does not release him, he will resume the action and go on a dry hunger strike, Novruzov said.

*Zamin Salayev was detained on 7 February, and the next day the Garadagh court arrested him on charges of hooliganism with a weapon (Article 221.3 of the Criminal Code). On 22 May the court sentenced him to four years of imprisonment.

The US Embassy in Baku urged the authorities to release Salayev and other political prisoners. -21B06-