Azerbaijani blogger Mekhman Guseinov goes on hunger strike in a penal colony

Blogger Mekhman Guseinov, suspected of beating a penal colony warder two months before the release, has been transferred to a punishment cell. He has refused to testify and went on a hunger strike, relatives and friends of the prisoner report. An advocate of Mekhman Guseinov complained that she was not allowed to visit the defendant.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 3, 2017, Mekhman Guseinov was sentenced to two years of imprisonment on the charge of defamation for claiming torture after detention. Mekhman Guseinov failed to achieve the early release. On December 26, the Penitentiary Service stated that two months before the end of the imprisonment term, Mekhman Guseinov beat a penal colony warder. Rights defenders believe that a new case was instituted against Mekhman Guseinov out of revenge for his opposition statements, in an attempt to prevent him from leaving the penal colony.

On December 26, Mekhman Guseinov was placed to a punishment cell for 10 days, reported his brother Emin Guseinov, the executive director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS).

"He claimed he was under pressure. Mekhman demands an advocate, but the defender was not allowed to visit him ... Mekhman has said that he declares an indefinite hunger strike to protest against the violation of his rights," Emin Guseinov said.

Harlem Désir, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, has expressed in Twitter his deep concern over the new criminal prosecution of Mekhman Guseinov.