Journalist Afgan Mukhtarly Reports on Provocations against Him

Baku / 01/23/19 / Turan: Journalist Afgan Mukhtarly said he was threatened with a new accusation. This was reported by his wife Leyla Mustafayeva, who is in political emigration. According to her, Mukhtarly called her on January 22.

"Afghan called and said that in Prison No. 16 pressure had increased on him. He urgently wants to meet with lawyers," Mustafayeva said.

She then quoted her husband"s words as she wrote: "For more than 10 days now, the leadership of Prison No. 16 has been preparing a provocation against me. At the direction of the head of the prison, Shahin Hasanov, a major named Kamil exerts pressure on me with all sorts of ways to make me angry and give him a forceful response, so that a new criminal case can be started against me. The leadership of the prison has developed a conviction that officers who put pressure on political prisoners are being promoted."

Mukhtarly also writes that on January 22 he was taken out of the treatment room. "In fact, I have problems with nutrition. I have diabetes and I need a diet. The quality of food in the dining room is low. It does not comply with regulations. I ask international organizations, NGOs, and the Ministry of Justice to monitor Prison No. 16," Mukhtarly said.

He noted that he leaves his personal belongings in a special room. "There are no prohibited items in my bags. If something is withdrawn from my bags, then the head of the prison is responsible for this. Any step against me is controlled by him. Responsibility for possible negative consequences lies with him," Mukhtarly wrote.

He believes they want to start a new criminal case against him. "Apparently 6 years of the prison term appointed for me do not reassure them (the authorities). A new criminal case against blogger Mehman Huseynov has been closed. But we must continue all efforts, protests and campaigns for the release of other political prisoners. I thank everyone who went to rallies with the demand for the release of political prisoners," his wife quoted Mukhtarly.

Turan's efforts to receive comments from the Prison Service failed.

* On May 29, 2018, investigative journalist Afgan Mukhtarly was abducted in Tbilisi and secretly transferred to Azerbaijan, where he was arrested on charges of smuggling, illegal border crossing and violence against a border guard and was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

The arrest of the journalist was condemned by international organizations, including the European Parliament. Amnesty International recognizes him as a "prisoner of conscience." - 03B06-