Imprisoned female journalists of Abzas Media are demanding that their colleague Ulvi Hasanli be transferred back to the Baku Pretrial Detention Center (BIT), stating that promises made about his return have not been fulfilled and that prison authorities are now suggesting alternative “solutions.”
According to Hasanli’s colleagues and family members, the head of the Baku Pretrial Detention Center, Elnur Ismayilov, proposed that Hasanli be transferred to the Penitentiary Service’s Central Medical Facility (“Sentral”), claiming it offers better conditions. However, the journalists strongly reject this offer.
This information was relayed to Abzas Media by their imprisoned journalist Nargiz Absalamova, who reported that Ismayilov told her Hasanli could be sent to the medical facility until the Court of Appeals, after which his lawyers could file a motion to return him to BIT.
However, Abzas Media’s editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi, during a visit with her family, stated that they refused this proposal, insisting that Hasanli was unlawfully transferred and must be brought back immediately.
“We are not requesting — we are demanding that Ulvi be returned. He was unlawfully taken from here and must be brought back. Moreover, ‘Sentral’ is a treatment facility for prisoners in need of medical care. Ulvi does not require medical treatment. Taking that spot away from someone who actually needs it to place Ulvi there is unacceptable. We ask the warden not to abuse his position by making unlawful proposals,” — said Sevinc Vagifgizi.
On June 20, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced several journalists in the so-called “Abzas Media case” to 7–9 years in prison. After the verdict, the male defendants, including Ulvi Hasanli, were transferred from BIT to the Penitentiary Complex in Umbaki settlement.
Reports indicate that in the new facility, Hasanli was subjected to ill-treatment and denied visitation rights with his wife and young daughter. In protest, he was placed in solitary confinement and launched a 9-day hunger strike.
Joining his protest, Abzas Media’s imprisoned female journalists — Sevinc Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova — as well as four female journalists detained in the “Meydan TV case” — Aynur Elgunes, Aytaj Tapdig, Khayala Agayeva, and Aysel Umudova — also began a hunger strike in solidarity.
On July 20, Hasanli announced that he was launching another indefinite hunger strike, as the promises made to him had again not been fulfilled.
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