Imprisoned “Azadlig” Newspaper Chief Editor Ganimet Zahid started a hunger-strike today.
Zahid’s lawyer Osman Kazimov told this to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety. According to Kazimov, he met with Zahid yesterday in Bayil Prison #1, and during their meeting Zahid said that he would start hunger-striking today (1 April). “Ganimet is conducting a hunger-strike in support of the hunger-strike being conducted by his colleagues,” said Kazimov. “And his demands are the same as the demands of his journalist colleagues.”
IRFS employees contacted the Public Relations Department of the Penitentiary Service about this matter. A representative from the department said, “This information is incorrect, there is nothing like this.”
After this, IRFS spoke to Bayil Prison #1. The general department said they have no information about Zahid’s hunger-strike.