Oppositionist Zamin Salaev, who is on a long-term hunger strike, was hospitalized

Baku/13.05.23/Turan: Activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Zamin Salayev was transferred from the Baku Detention Center to the Medical Institution of the Penitentiary Service on May 11 in the evening due to a sharp deterioration in his health. Salaev has been on a hunger strike for 96 days demanding his release.

“Most likely, Salaev fell into a coma. So, twice on April 27 and May 9 he was in a coma, but then the doctors managed to bring him back to consciousness on the spot. On the evening of May 11, his health deteriorated sharply again. Many doctors arrived at the pre-trial detention center. Then Zamin Salaev was transferred to a medical institution of the Penitentiary Service. Only on May 12, in the pre-trial detention center, I was informed about the transfer of Salaev to the prison hospital, ”lawyer Fakhreddin Mehdiyev told Turan.

Today, May 13, the lawyer was not allowed to see Salaev in a medical institution.

“I was told at the medical institution that on Saturdays and Sundays prisoners are not given meetings. I was not informed about Salaev's state of health," Mehdiyev said.

The Penitentiary Service could not be reached for comment.

* On February 8, the Garadagh District Court of Baku arrested Salayev for three months. A criminal case was initiated against him under Article 221.3 of the Criminal Code. The activist faces up to 5 years in prison.

Zamin Salaev said in court that the accusation was false and that he was being punished for criticizing the authorities on social media. Human rights activists recognized Salaev as a political prisoner. On May 12, the US Embassy called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release Salayev. -03B06-