The police prevented the single action of the wife of Polad Aslanov

Baku/08.04.22/Turan: Gulmira Aslanova, the wife of the convicted journalist Polad Aslanov, held a protest rally in front of the presidential administration building on April 8. She protested against the beating of her husband in  jail No. 1 and demanded that he be kept safe.

Last week she visited her husband in the jail and saw signs of violence on his face. As it turned out, Polad was beaten by a cellmate who, according to Aslanova, cooperates with the prison administration.

On April 4, she held a protest in front of the Prison Service, demanding to ensure the safety of her husband. “No measures have been taken. This prisoner was placed in a punishment cell, today he is leaving the punishment cell and will again be placed in a room with Polad. I demand safety for my husband and his release,” Aslanova said during the action, raising the slogan “Don’t torture, release!”. However, the police snatched the took  the banner from her.

She demanded a meeting with the presidential aide in charge of law enforcement agencies, but she was offered to go to the Citizens' Reception Center of the presidential administration, promising that Fuad Aleskerov, the aide to the head of state, would receive her there.

At the same time, policewomen forcibly removed Aslanova from the presidential administration. However, Fuad Aleskerov did not receive Aslanova at the Citizens' Reception Center. “I was already received by the staff of Aleskerov’s department and this had no results. Therefore, I refused,” Aslanova said.

The founder and head of the xeberman.com website, Polad Aslanov, was arrested in June 2019 on charges of treason and sentenced to 16 years in prison. Human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner. On February 24, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence to 13 years.—06B21-