Polad Aslanov cut his hand in the medical center of the colony as a sign of protest

Baku/10.01.22/Turan: Imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov was allowed to contact his family only after he cut his hand. This was told to Turan by the journalist's wife Gulmira Aslanov.

According to her, the journalist was able to call on the evening of January 10 only.

"Monday is Polad's phone call day. But he was able to call at ten o'clock in the evening only. Polad said he had given a written request for a phone call back on Sunday. Throughout the day, however, he was not allowed to exercise his legal right to a phone call. They demanded that Polad end his hunger strike, only then would he be able to make a phone call. As a sign of protest, Polad cut his own hand with a blade. The guards did not let him cut his other hand and took away his blade", - said Aslanova.

According to her, Aslanov's wound was bound up, returned the cigarettes and bottled water taken away today and allowed to make a phone call.

P.Aslanov also added that in five days of hunger strike he lost 3 kg. - from 49 kg. to 46 kg.

"Polad is having his blood pressure and pulse measured. He said that as a result of the hunger strike, his pulse increased greatly in his arms and legs, and he has numbness. Polad felt shortness of breath and had severe headaches. Nevertheless, Polad intends to continue his hunger strike demanding a review of the case and his acquittal," continued the journalist's wife.  

Aslanova noted that due to the hunger strike and deprivation of his right to telephone, she appealed during the day to the Penitentiary Service, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Baku office of the International Committee of the Red Cross but there was no reaction of these structures.

* xeberman.com editor Polad Aslanov was sentenced on November 16, 2019, to 16 years of imprisonment on charges of treason in favor of Iran. Reporters Without Borders and other human rights organizations called on Azerbaijani authorities to release Polad Aslanov. -06B-