Mekhman Guseinov's brother accuses Azerbaijani authorities of misinformation

Emin Guseinov treats the information disseminated by the Azerbaijani authorities about a new criminal case against Mekhman Guseinov and his hunger strike as "tactical tricks."

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 26, 2018, Mekhman Guseinov announced a dry hunger strike in the colony, where he was serving his term, in protest against the new criminal case opened against him. During the hunger strike, Mekhman had severely undermined his health, and began taking liquid dairy products, because of severe stomach pains, but still refuses any other food, his brother and the advocate have stated.

According to Emin Guseinov, a brother of Mekhman Guseinov, the director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), who stays in political emigration abroad, Mekhman continues his hunger strike and takes only liquid dairy products.

Emin Guseinov notes that the pressure on the blogger has been increased.

"The authorities are persistently trying to deny the Mekhman's hunger strike. However, look: up to ten political prisoners have been already on hunger strike. Prisoners have their own secret channels of communication between prisons and the reliable information comes to other SIZOs (pre-trial prisons) and penal colonies. If the information about the Mekhman's hunger strike was false, others would not participate in it and express their solidarity with him," Emin Guseinov said.

According to him, in recent days, "the authorities are trying to misinform the international community about the new criminal case against Mekhman."

Emin Guseinov called the information disseminated by the authorities of Azerbaijan about the new criminal case against Mekhman Guseinov and his hunger strike as the "tactical tricks."

"The authorities are thus trying to prevent decision-making at the upcoming sessions of the European Parliament, the PACE in January, and the OSCE PA in February," Emin Guseinov emphasizes.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on January 15, 2019 at 07:00 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.