Rearrested Bayram Mammadov’s health deteriorating

The health of Bayram Mammadov, who was recently pardoned by the president and later arrested again, deteriorated in jail, local news platforms report.

The health of Bayram Mammadov, who was recently pardoned by the president and later arrested again, deteriorated in jail, local news platforms report.

Mammadov, known as a political prisoner, had been serving a 10-year sentence since 2016 on bogus drug possession charges after spraying graffiti on the statue of former president Heydar Aliyev, father of the acting president Ilham Aliyev. He was released on March 16, 2019 under Aliyev’s pardon. After 13 days he was rearrested, since in an interview to a local online media outlet Bayramov admitted he is not sorry for what he did 3 years ago and criticized the government.

One of Mammadov’s defenders, political activist Samir Asadli told BBC Azerbaijani that "Bayram Mammadov's health is bad".

"A person who left the prison where he is held and who did not want his name to be disclosed said his condition was not good, he was hit by head and therefore has headaches and he is vomiting each night," Asadli was quoted as saying.

Mammadov is a member of the opposition youth movement NIDA. The organization also confirmed the situation to Meydan TV expressing its concern about the health of its imprisoned member.

“Mammadov suffers serious health problems after he was exposed to physical pressure, torture at the Binagadi Prison. He has headaches and every night is vomiting. These are signs of brain injury,” the organization stated.

Mehman Sadigov, spokesman of the Penitentiary Service, said he had no any knowledge on Mammadov's health.

“The treatment and examination of prisoners are carried out by doctors working in prisons and detention facilities, and they are not subject to the Penitentiary Service.” Sadigov said.

Mammadov was arrested on charges of resisting police last weekend and was sentenced to 30 days in prison.

His lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, who met him after his arrest, stated that Mammadov was tortured and he shared on social media a document where ill-treatment inflicted on Mammadov was depicted in pictures where Mammadov’s signature is also seen.

Head of the Torture Prevention Department at the Ombudsman's Office, Rashid Rumzade, told BBC Azerbaijani that Ombudsman representatives met with Mammadov in prison and he did not report about the vomit.

International organization urged the Azerbaijani government to release Mammadov. “Bayram Mammadov’s re-arrest is yet another example of the Azerbaijani government’s intolerance to criticism and contempt for free speech,” said Giorgi Gogia, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “The Azerbaijani authorities should immediately free him and ensure accountability for his detention including any ill-treatment,” Gogia said.

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