Two political prisoners went on hunger strike, one stopped

Baku/11.09.23/Turan: Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan activist Agyl Gumbatov and Jafar Mirzayev, who was arrested after being deported from Germany, began a hunger strike in prison.

Gumbatov was detained on August 11, 2021, and in November sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment on charges of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm.

He went on a hunger strike today in colony No. 2, his wife said.

'We spoke to him on the phone yesterday. He said that he informed the colony management that he was starting a hunger strike demanding his release for lack of guilt, solving the social problems of his family, "she said.

Gumbatova said that since May 1 this year, social payments to her family have been cut.

"I have been informed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security that social assistance to my family in the amount of 272 manats has been accrued incorrectly because I have three children. Therefore, I will be allocated 450 manats per month. I was offered to write a statement of refusal from 272 manats. However, no promised 450 manats were given to me. At the same time, I lost 272 manats. We don't have any source of income. Children are sick and need treatment, otherwise asthma will develop.

For more than three months, outsiders have been buying bread for my children. I appeal to President Ilham Aliyev to help my children and release my unjustly convicted husband, "she said.

Gumbatova said that a month ago her husband was already on a hunger strike with the same demand. "Then came the representative of the Ministry of Justice and asked to end the hunger strike, promising that the family's social problems would be resolved. However, we were deceived, "Gumbatova continued.

As for Jafar Mirzoev, he was detained in November 2021 after being deported from Germany, and on January 16, 2023 he was sentenced to 6 years of imprisonment on charges of drug trafficking. It was later reduced to 5 years by the Court of Appeal.

Jafar Mirzayev's brother Vusal Jafarov said that his brother had been on a hunger strike in colony No. 2 since September 9. He also protests against illegal detention, family deprivation of social benefits and his illegal deportation from Germany.

"I asked him to stop the hunger strike, but he intends to continue the action until his demands are met," the brother said.

In turn, former Milli Mejlis MP Nazim Beidamirli said on September 11 that he had ended the hunger strike that began on the 4th. He started an action in Baku SIZO No.1, protesting against illegal arrest.

Initially, he was accused under Article 182.2.4 of the Criminal Code (extortion by threats), and then accused of repeated extortion.

Beydamirli himself is confident that the true reason for his arrest is the publication on social networks of messages about the protest of residents in the village of Soyudlu, Gedabey region. -03-