Lawyer Bahruz Bayramov today met at the Medical Institution of the Penitentiary Service with the former head of the Executive Power of the Gadabay region Saleh Rustamov, who has been on a hunger strike for 14 days demanding his release from prison.
As the lawyer told Turan, Rustamov’s condition is getting worse every day.
According to him, Rustamov came to the meeting with difficulty moving.
“Saleh Rustamov’s face was absolutely pale. It was barely audible. He already speaks confusedly, he already has problems with memory. At any moment, he may fall into a coma. Nevertheless, he intends to carry out a hunger strike to the end,” Bayramov said.
According to him, in the current situation, Rustamov can be released either by a presidential pardon, or by a decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court.
“I have already turned to the Plenum to reconsider the case in connection with the newly discovered circumstances. The verdict states that Rustamov from Russia sent funds to Azerbaijan in the amount of 424 thousand dollars. But, we received documents from banks stating that he still has credit debts to banks for $ 30 thousand. If he had such funds, he would first of all pay off his debts. He did not have any non-residential area, objects. That is, he could not send 424 thousand dollars here in any way,” Bayramov said.
* Saleh Rustamov, a supporter of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan, was arrested in May 2018 and sentenced to 7 years 3 months in prison in the so-called case of “illegal financing of the Popular Front Party”. Human rights activists recognized him as a political prisoner. Subsequently, the Supreme Court reduced the sentence by 2 months. Since November 6, he has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding his release.