This week, economist Fazil Qasimov remains on a prolonged hunger strike protesting his imprisonment, political activist Elvin Mustafayev faces ongoing solitary confinement as his case awaits court review, and Azerbaijani authorities have issued arrest warrants against several exiled government critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fazil Gasimov continues his hunger strike<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Fazil Gasimov, an Azerbaijani economist and PhD student at Istanbul University, is currently on a prolonged hunger strike in protest of his imprisonment. He was detained in Turkey and extradited to Azerbaijan in connection with the criminal case against opposition economist Gubad Ibadoghlu. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
On March 13, 2025, Gasimov was sentenced to nine years in prison under charges of producing or selling counterfeit currency as part of an organized group. He denies all accusations, calling the charges fabricated and politically motivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to his family, Gasimov began his second hunger strike on May 10, 2025, and as of June 6, he has been refusing food for 27 days, consuming only water. Since May 21, he has been held in solitary confinement (“karser”), and authorities have reportedly told him he will only be released from this punishment if he ends the hunger strike\u2014something he has refused to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His brother reports that Gasimov’s health is deteriorating rapidly: he is suffering from kidney pain, frequent blackouts, and can barely stand. Despite his condition, medical care has been minimal\u2014limited to having his blood pressure checked. Gasimov is being held in the Umbaki Penal Facility, and his next court hearing is scheduled for June 17 at the Baku Court of Appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The case against him is tied to that of Gubad Ibadoghlu, who was also charged in 2023 with currency-related crimes and possession of extremist religious materials. Ibadoghlu, who also denies the charges, was released from prison and placed under house arrest in April 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elvin Mustafayev, currently serving a prison sentence in a high-security facility, is the subject of a recent court submission regarding the transfer of his imprisonment to the strict-regime Gobustan Prison until August 4, 2026. The Nizami District Court is scheduled to review this case on June 12, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Mustafayev\u2019s lawyer, Zibeyda Sad\u0131kova, reported that she attempted to visit him on June 4 at Prison No. 6 but was denied access by the prison chief, who claimed Mustafayev was in solitary confinement. Sad\u0131kova has filed complaints with the Penitentiary Service and the Ombudsman regarding this issue. Mustafayev was placed in solitary confinement after beginning a hunger strike on May 6, 2025, demanding the release of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu and other political prisoners. Although he was later transferred to Prison No. 6, he remains in solitary confinement and is not allowed visits from family or his lawyer. He is scheduled for release on June 29, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elvin Mustafayev was arrested on August 4, 2023, and convicted on January 31, 2024, under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code for drug trafficking, receiving a three-year prison sentence. He denies the charges, claiming he was given drugs against his will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mustafayev is one of four members of the “\u0130\u015f\u00e7i Masas\u0131” Trade Union Confederation, established in 2022 to protect workers’ rights in Azerbaijan, who are currently imprisoned. Although facing different charges, all four maintain that the accusations against them are politically motivated and fabricated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Azerbaijan issues arrest warrants for exiled critics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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