Detention Center's Management: Afgan Mukhtarly's State of Health Satisfactory

Baku / 20.08.17 / Turan: The head of Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1 Rashid Safarov and the head of the medical and sanitary unit of this penitentiary institution Gurban Huseynov wrote an official response to the lawyers of the journalist Afgan Mukhtarly in connection with the inmate's health problems. The lawyer Elchin Sadigov told Turan about this.

The detention center's management asserts that Mukhtarly has been provided with "medical examination and treatment" since the day of his entry into the detention center on 1 June.

During the survey, Mukhtarly said he is a diabetic patient, and his blood pressure is regulated with hypotensive drugs. Mukhtarly underwent laboratory, radiologic, electrobiological and ultrasound examinations. During the survey, it was found that he only had blood sugar levels slightly above normal. "He was recommended to continue using supportive medications. An instruction was also given for the constant availability of a glucometer with him in order to control the level of sugar in the blood," the letter says.

Further in the document it is asserted that Mukhtarly received consultations from a cardiologist and endocrinologist. At the same time it is said that for the past period there was no special case - a sharp increase in blood pressure or blood sugar level - requiring special medical care for Mukhtarly.

Earlier, the lawyers reported on gastric and heartaches in Mukhtarly and about his loss of 21 kg in weight.

* Mukhtarly was abducted in Tbilisi on May 29 and transferred to Azerbaijan, where he was charged with illegal crossing of the border, smuggling, and using violence against a border guard. He rejected the accusations. Amnesty International recognizes him as a "prisoner of conscience". -06B-