JOURNALIST IDRAK ABBASOV HAS CRANIAL TRAUMA AND TWO BROKEN RIBS

Journalist Idrak Abbasov remains in hospital. His most recent diagnosis, reported by Almazkhan Zeynalov, a doctor at Clinic Medical Center #1, was released earlier today.

Abbasov reported from his hospital bed that the doctor attributed his severe and continued pain to two broken ribs and cranial trauma. “The doctor noted progress in my health, but I still have severe internal pains and my breath remains restricted,” said the journalist and added that the investigative agencies have not yet showed interest in his case or questioned him.

Today, human rights commissioner Elmira Suleymanova visited Idrak Abbasov in hospital. In the meeting, Abbasov said that he had been beaten by SOCAR employees, not police as previously reported. He is satisfied his medical treatment. Suleymanova asked the chief doctor at the hospital, Tarlan Babirov, to carefully monitor Abbasov’s condition.

BACKGROUND

IRFS and Ayna-Zerkalo newspaper reporter Idrak Abbasov was severely beaten during an incident that broke out during demolitions of allegedly illegal residential buildings in the Sulutapa settlement. The journalist was filming the confrontation when he was assaulted. The SOCAR guards grabbed his phone, knocked him to ground and beat him repeatedly across his torso and head. Abbasov was taken to Clinic Medical Center #1 shortly afterward, where he remains under observation. A criminal case has been launched in Binagadi District Police Office under Article 221 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code, and an investigation is underway.