Agil Humbatov starts second hunger strike protest action

Baku/11.09.23/Turan: Agil Humbatov, an activist of the Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan (PPFA) serving a prison sentence, has started a hunger strike in the colony from today, demanding to solve his family's social problems and start treatment of his illnesses, the prisoner's spouse Aygyun Humbatov told Turan.

According to her, A.Gumbatov protests, in particular, against depriving his family of the targeted social assistance provided for low-income families.

"This is Agyl's second hunger strike, the first one started on 12 August with the same demands, but he interrupted the protest action believing the promises of the colony authorities to fulfil his demands. My husband was deceived, he interrupted the protest, but I still do not receive social allowance, there are no funds to repair the house and pay for utilities. We have three sick children, I don't work and I don't receive help from the state," Aygyun Gumbatova said.

She also reported the detention of a resident of Mardakyan village who had sent her insulting telephone messages. The messages contained threats and demands not to complain to the President. The other day Gumbatova was invited to the police of the village, where she was shown the attacker and his father. The police said that the sender of the messages suffers from a nervous disease. However, Aygyun Gumbatova is convinced that the police are misleading her in order to divert the sender of the messages from responsibility.

In November 2021, Agyl Gumbatov was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on a charge of damaging the health of a citizen out of hooliganism. Gumbatov claims he is innocent and is being prosecuted for his active participation in opposition protests.

The press service of the Justice Ministry's Penitentiary System could not be reached for comment. -0-