30 lifers start protest action in Gobustan prison

The lifers claiming that their lives are in danger demand Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova and Human Rights Monitoring Group members to arrive in the prison to get acquainted with the real situation there.

As APA reports, Gobustan prison chief Sedaget Aghayev received the protesting prisoners one by one making them refuse their applications on protest action, "The lifers rejected the prison chief's demand declaring they will start long-term hunger strike if the Ombudsman and human rights defenders do not come to the prison," the families said.

The prisoners also protest against interrogating the prisoners of the next prison building as witnesses in connection with the criminal case launched on prisoner Kamandar Aslanov's death.

Prison chief Sedaget Agayev refused to comment on the issue advising to contact Justice Ministry Main Office of Execution of Verdicts (MOEV).

The MOEV department chief Rafig Ramazano said Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova visited the prison and met with the lifers several days ago. She also surveyed the ward where Kamandar Aslanov died.

Ramazanov also said six lifers started protest action in Gobustan. They are protesting against the articles published about them in the media outlets.

"Lifer Ali Guliyev protests against media reports on his having killed six persons. He had been sentenced to death by Azerbaijani, Russian and Georgian courts," he said.

The department chief refuted the reports that the prison chief exerts pressure on the protesting lifers.

Garadagh district prosecutor Tariel Gurbanov told the witnesses on Kamandar Aslanov’s case have been identified.

"The investigation has started for seven days and will last for three months. Witnesses will be inquired and legal decision will be made," he underlined.