Youth activist Jabbar Savalanli, who is being held in prison #10, was not allowed to meet with his lawyer Asabali Mustafayev. Mustafayev told IRFS that he had presented his warrant of attorney to the prison authorities on September 3, but it yielded no result.
“When I met with prison chief Mirsaleh Seyidov, he told me that I needed a letter from Penitentiary Service if I wanted to meet with my client. I was also told that the prison employee in charge of registering meeting of lawyer with prisoners was on his day off. I told them that this is the state’s problem, not mine, if they are missing an employee or have not received the letter sent by the Penitentiary Service.
Then I called the Ministry of Justice hotline and they told me that I cannot meet with a prisoner without written permission from the Penitentiary Service,” said Mustafayev.
BACKGROUND
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party member Jabbar Savalanli was arrested on February 5, 2011. He is being charged with drug possession, but it is widely thought that his arrest was politically motivated, linked to criticism of the government he posted on social networking sites. The Sumgayit City Court sentenced Savalanli to 2.5 years in jail on May 4, 2011. The Sumgayit Appeals Court issued a judgment to uphold the Sumgayit City Court’s July 26 verdict.
Then I called the Ministry of Justice hotline and they told me that I cannot meet with a prisoner without written permission from the Penitentiary Service,” said Mustafayev.
BACKGROUND
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party member Jabbar Savalanli was arrested on February 5, 2011. He is being charged with drug possession, but it is widely thought that his arrest was politically motivated, linked to criticism of the government he posted on social networking sites. The Sumgayit City Court sentenced Savalanli to 2.5 years in jail on May 4, 2011. The Sumgayit Appeals Court issued a judgment to uphold the Sumgayit City Court’s July 26 verdict.