Azerbaijan's former Economic Development Minister goes on hunger strike - UPDATED

02.02.08

15:40

Elchin Behbudov, chairman of Azerbaijan's commitee against torture, held a monitoring in the investigation ward of Azerbaijan's Ministry of National Security.

APA reports that the inspection of the dining-room, foot storage, bathroom, cells, medical station and gimnasium has been carried out in cooperation with the official of the Committee Bayram Sadyghov:

"The heating and cooling systems in the isolator are functioning normally. The medical office is provided with modern equipment".

Behbudov noted that he met with the former minister of economic development of Azerbaijan Farhad Aliyev. The latter informed him about going on a 48 hour hunger strike beginning with this morning.

"Farhad Aliyev demands transfer to the medical center due to heart problems. He does not have any claims regarding the detention conditions. I will appeal to the Ministry of Justice regarding F.Aliyev's transfer to the medical center. I was told in the isolator that all conditions for Aliyev's meeting with his family had been created", the human right activist said.

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10:25

"We have not received an official information about Farhad Aliyev's hunger strike either from himself or from his defenders", Arif Babayev, head of the center for public affairs under Azerbaijan's Ministry of National Security, said commenting on the information about Azerbaijan's ex-minister of economic development Farhad Aliyev going on hunger strike.

He noted that the former minister had not refused eating.

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01.02.08

18:02

In his letter to I.Ashurov, Aliyev stated that he is kept in a small, humid prison cell.

He also complains that he is not even allowed to pass medical treatment of heart problems.

Farhad Aliyev demands medical examination by his personal doctor or others and creation of conditions for the treatment course.

/Day.Az/