Azerbaijani Journalist Polad Aslanov on Hunger Strike Amid Allegations of Discrimination in Prison

BAKU – Imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist Polad Aslanov has initiated a hunger strike, commencing on 29 August 2025, to protest against alleged discriminatory practices at Prison No. 15. His wife, Gülmirə Aslanova, confirmed her husband's action, stating that he was barred from using the medical unit's kitchen, which he had utilised for heating his prepared meals for the past 10 months.

Aslanova reported that Polad Aslanov was denied access to the kitchen and refrigerator within the medical unit following an incident on 29 August. On that day, two employees from the Ministry of Justice visited the facility to investigate the identity of a prisoner reselling "Bizon" energy drinks, purchased for 1 manat, for 2 manats. Polad Aslanov reportedly confronted these officials, demanding they identify themselves and urging them to investigate the systemic issues compelling prisoners to engage in such reselling.

During this encounter, Polad Aslanov also demanded an investigation into the chief doctor of the prison's alleged practice of selling beds in the medical unit for 200 manats to healthy prisoners, while sick inmates were kept in difficult conditions. He further highlighted that state-allocated items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, clothing, hygiene products, and walking shoes were reportedly being sold to prisoners, questioning where the original provisions disappeared. According to his wife, the Ministry of Justice employees left without providing any explanation. Subsequently, the chief doctor informed Aslanov that he would no longer be permitted to use the medical unit's kitchen and refrigerator.

Gülmirə Aslanova noted that her husband had been using the medical unit's kitchen and refrigerator since November 2024 to store and heat his meals due to unsanitary conditions in the main prison kitchen. She emphasised that he only used the facilities to prepare his food and did not spend leisure time there.

Polad Aslanov, the head of the "Xəbərman" news website, was arrested on 12 June 2019 and subsequently sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges of treason under Article 274 of the Criminal Code. The Supreme Court later reduced his sentence to 13 years. Aslanov denies all charges, asserting that his imprisonment is politically motivated and linked to his critical journalistic activities.

This is not the first instance of concern over Polad Aslanov's treatment in prison. On 22 August 2025, Gülmirə Aslanova had stated that her husband's medical examination results were being deliberately delayed. Despite undergoing an ultrasound examination on 18 July 2025 at Prison No. 15, the results had not been provided to them. A doctor at the Medical Facility verbally informed Polad Aslanov of a liver problem, yet repeated requests for the official results were denied.

An earlier complaint by Polad Aslanov regarding medical assistance, filed with the Ombudsman, was forwarded to the Ministry of Justice's Chief Medical Department on 30 June. The Ministry responded on 31 July, stating that Aslanov was deemed "practically healthy" during examinations upon his admission to Baku Investigation Isolator in 2020, a year after his arrest. His wife pointed out the five-year gap since that assessment. Gülmirə Aslanova believes his health is being jeopardised and her current demand is solely to obtain the ultrasound examination results.

As of the time of reporting, neither Prison No. 15, the Penitentiary Service, nor the Ministry of Justice's Chief Medical Department have provided comments on these allegations. Officials generally maintain that prisoners are treated in accordance with the law and that no one in Azerbaijan is arrested for their professional activities or on political grounds. Local human rights organisations, however, report that there are currently over 370 political prisoners in Azerbaijani jails, a claim consistently rejected by the government.