Zamin Salaev resumed his hunger strike

Baku/11.07.23/Turan: Zamin Salayev, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA) held in custody, resumed his hunger strike demanding his release, the activist's lawyer Nemat Kerimli reported. According to him, Salayev has been refusing to eat since July 10.

The lawyer recalled that Salayev stopped his previous hunger strike 114 days after the start of the action in connection with the assurances provided to him about his release in the Court of Appeal.

"However, on July 6, at a preliminary hearing in the Baku Court of Appeal, journalists were not allowed into the hall, and the defense's petitions were not satisfied. Therefore, Salayev believes that the promises that his complaint will be fairly considered will not be fulfilled and he resumed his hunger strike," Kerimli said.

According to him, Salayev has serious health problems because he has not yet recovered from his first hunger strike. The lawyer fears that the new hunger strike may cause serious damage to his health. The Penitentiary Service told Turan that "the issue will be investigated and then information will be provided."

Consideration of Salayev's complaint on the merits is scheduled for July 13.

*Zamin Salaev was detained on February 7, and the next day the Garadagh court arrested him on charges of hooliganism with the use of weapons (Article 221.3 of the Criminal Code). Since his detention, Salayev has been on a hunger strike demanding his release. On May 22, the court sentenced him to 4 years in prison. On June 1, on the 115th day of the hunger strike, he stopped the action after giving him assurances that the Court of Appeal would objectively consider his complaint.

The US Embassy in Baku called on the authorities to release Salayev and other political prisoners. ---21B06---