Fazil Gasimov, arrested in the Gubad Ibadoglu case, went on a hunger strike

Fazil Gasimov, who was arrested in a criminal case against opposition politician and scientist-economist Gubad Ibadoglu, began a hunger strike on June 14 in Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1. He protests against the biased investigation.

His brother Nazim Gasimov reported to about F. Gasimov’s hunger strike.

 According to him, F. Gasimov intends to starve to death.

“He has serious health problems. Before the pandemic, he had stomach surgery twice. In prison conditions, he cannot eat normally. His condition was already serious, and after the start of the hunger strike it became even more complicated,” said N. Gasimov.

According to him, the investigation is carried out on the basis of the subjective assumptions of the investigator.

Gasimov denies the charges and demands the termination of his criminal prosecution.

The prison service could not be reached for comment.

In turn, human rights activist Rufat Safarov said that Gasimov was subjected to torture and degrading treatment during his detention and was later forced to slander Ibadoglu. He subsequently retracted his testimony against Ibadoglu.

“Fazil Gasimov is in a difficult situation, without protection. He is looking for a lawyer who could protect his rights,” Safarov wrote on Facebook.

Fazil Gasimov was detained last August in Turkey and taken to Azerbaijan, where he was arrested on charges of making counterfeit money. Pro-government media then reported that his arrest was related to the case of opposition politician Gubad Ibadoglu, who was charged with a similar crime.