Long-term hunger strikes affected the health of former political prisoners

Baku/28.05.22/Turan: Long-term hunger strikes by former political prisoners  in prison affected their health. Saleh Rustamov, the former head of the Gadabay District Executive Authority, told reporters today after his release in accordance with the pardon order that although he is now in general good health, the consequences of a 40-day hunger strike in prison are making themselves felt.

According to Rustamov, he had serious problems with memory, internal organs, and in particular with the gallbladder. He called the accusation brought against him of illegal financing of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan not serious.

According to him, from Russia he sent monthly small donations collected there among Azerbaijanis to support the families of political prisoners, treat some activists, and for other humanitarian purposes. “Of course, it was impossible to finance and support the party with such sums of $500-1000 per month,” Rustamov said.

Considering himself innocent, Rustamov hoped that, having figured it out, he would be released.

However,  he did not fall under the amnesty last fall, decided to take a desperate step and declare an indefinite hunger strike.

Rustamov believes that in the end he gained freedom only because of the strong public support during the hunger strike, and Rustamov is grateful to everyone who spoke out in his defense.

Rustamov said that he will continue to be together with those who are making efforts to establish democracy in Azerbaijan, the well-being of the people.

In the coming days, Rustamov is going to return to Russia, where he has lived for the past 25 years.

Another former political prisoner, journalist Afgan Sadigov, also noted that after a months-long hunger strike, he had not yet fully recovered.

“I have been fasting for 8 months. I refused to eat, they fed me through a catheter, they made infusions by drip. This allowed me not to die, but severely disrupted the functioning of the digestive organs. I have serious memory problems,” Sadigov told Turan.

The pardon order affected 213 people, including 168 people serving prison sentences; there are over 20 political prisoners among them.—06B-