Emin Huseynov: Mehman under Strong Pressure

Baku / 12.01.19 / Turan: Blogger Mehman Huseynov phoned home from Baku Detention Center 1 on January 12, his brother Emin Huseynov, his brother, director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), told Turan.

According to him, the blogger sent several messages: he made it clear that he was under pressure and could not speak freely on the phone and had meetings with visitors in recent days, including representatives of the EU, which were not confidential. In a hidden form, the blogger reported on the continuation of the hunger strike and the preservation of health problems. He requested a visit by his lawyers next week.

As E. Huseynov noted, the blogger called home on Saturday suddenly. M. Huseynov spoke with the wife of another brother.

At the same time, the phone was transferred to the selector and E. Huseynov joined the conversation through another device. According to E. Huseynov, the conversation lasted about 7 minutes.

"For the first two minutes, Mehman asked about his father"s condition. Mehman asked how his father was, and his brother's spouse said he was unwell and very worried.

After she asked what to bring to him, Mehman began, as if under dictation, to talk about his meetings in recent days with representatives of the Red Cross, Ombudsman, pro-government NGOs, the European Union mission and embassies of several European countries," said E. Huseynov.

According to him, M. Huseynov said that with all of whom he had met, he noted that he had been arrested for his blogging and investigation. However, for two years already he has been in prison, and has not conducted any investigations. "Therefore, Mehman said the new criminal case is revenge for the activities of his brother Emin, that is, because of me. However, he told visitors that he was not responsible for me and other family members. At the same time, Mehman, in the conversation with us, noted that he could not speak about many things due to restrictions. But he did convey some of the messages. Mehman stressed that he does not possess information that is distributed on his behalf. Mehman stressed that now he does not care about the conditions of detention and his main goal is the removal of the new unfounded accusation.

When I asked if he was going on a hunger strike, the connection was broken. After that, as I was just trying to ask something, the connection was broken. In fact, it turned out the monologue of Mehman. He spoke in a tense, agitated voice, and it was felt that he was being controlled nearby. Mehman made it clear that he continues the hunger strike, noting that he "continues the struggle at the same pace," that is, he accepts only milk and kefir. Mehman also noted that he is under the supervision of doctors.

He was tested for urine, feces, and blood. Doctors even refrain from introducing an injection system to him because of fears of negative consequences, and the decision will be made after receiving the results of the tests," Huseynov said.

In his opinion, the authorities are trying to form a public opinion that M. Huseynov does not hold a hunger strike. "Through the representatives of the pro-governmental NGOs who visited him, messages were launched that Mehman was taking milk and liquid dishes. However, in fact, Mehman takes dairy products. If a person gets less calories per day during the day, this is considered a hunger strike, because the body is damaged. Oleg Sentsov also conducted a long-term hunger strike using nutrient mixtures. And Mehman is counting on a long hunger strike until his release on the expiration of his sentence on March 2," Huseynov said.

As for M.Huseynov"s visit by representatives of the EU mission and embassies of EU countries, E. Huseynov expressed regret that the authorities used it for their own purposes.

"The authorities are striving for admitting various representatives to Mehman, including the EU delegation to form an opinion that Mehman is well and to defuse tensions in society and disorient the international community on the eve of considering the situation around Mehman in the European Parliament next Thursday and generally updating sanctions by the West. I understand that EU representatives visited Mehman with good intentions. However, they allowed that their photograph with Mehman got into the pro-government media and was used for the purposes of government propaganda. I have the conviction that Mehman's meetings with them and other representatives were not confidential and my brother could not tell the whole truth. It is regrettable that the representatives of the EU did not inform our family about the results and did not make statements to the press. In general, of the EU countries, only France expressed a principled position in relation to the new case against Mehman and called for his release. At the same time, the office of EU High Representative for External Relations Federica Mogherini prefers to keep silent against the background of the active campaign in defense of Mehman by international human rights organizations, statements by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, and the OSCE Representative on Media Freedom," E. Huseynov said.

He also noted that the blogger asked to express gratitude to all who are fighting for his rights. "Mehman also requested that lawyers visit him next week. He did not ask for anything else. After the death of our mother, I could always talk freely to Mehman on the phone. But this time we were not given the opportunity to communicate. He did not hear my questions. By itself, this fact also indicates a strong pressure on my brother," E. Huseynov said.

Mehman Huseynov went on a hunger strike on December 26 to protest the new charge against him of beating a prison officer 2 months before he was released from prison. -0-