Trade Union Leader Afiaddin Mammadov Alleges 'Intolerable' Prison Conditions Amidst Concerns for His Health

Afiaddin Mammadov

Baku, Azerbaijan – Afiaddin Mammadov, the imprisoned chairman of the "Ishchi Masasi" (Workers' Table) Trade Unions Confederation, is reportedly being held in severe and "intolerable" conditions at Penitentiary Institution No. 2. His family and close associates have shared concerns with "Abzas Media" and "Toplum TV," stating that despite prior promises, no improvements have been made to his detention conditions, which has further deteriorated his psychological state.

Allegations of Dire Conditions and Communication Issues

Mammadov's family reports that when he attempts to discuss the situation during phone calls, the conversations are frequently cut short, preventing him from fully conveying his circumstances. In one instance, after initial calls were cut, he was later allowed to call again, but the line was disconnected once more when he began to speak about the conditions.

Specific complaints about the prison environment include:

• Overcrowding: Mammadov reported that his cell holds more prisoners than the norm. Another account specifies that there are "more than 250 prisoners for only four sanitary facilities".

• Antisanitary Conditions: Relatives describe an unsanitary environment, with rats and large rodents in the kitchen and food storage areas, consuming provisions. Rodents are also present in the sleeping areas. Mammadov publicly stated that "mice freely roam in the kitchen, perforate food boxes, and eat the food".

• Limited Access to Facilities: There are long queues, sometimes for hours, to use the toilets due to the high number of inmates.

• Inadequate Medical Care: Mammadov has reportedly struggled to receive proper medical examinations. On one occasion, he went to the medical point but the doctor was not present. He managed to see a doctor a few days later, but was given only "pro-forma" medication. Another source mentions he had a fever and throat pain, and while some medicine was given, it wasn't for his throat, and his high fever continued. His health and psychological state are described as severe.

Legal Background and Activist Persecution Claims

Afiaddin Mammadov was sentenced to eight years in prison on 14 January 2024. He was initially detained on 20 September 2023, accused of assaulting an unknown person with a knife and causing severe bodily harm. The charges against him include:

• Article 126.2.4 of the Criminal Code (intentional infliction of serious harm to health by a generally dangerous method, with hooligan intent).

• Article 221.3 (hooliganism committed with the use of objects used as weapons).

• Article 228.4 (illegal acquisition, sale, or carrying of gas weapons, cold weapons, including cold firearms, with exceptions for national dress accessories or hunting professions).

  
  

Mammadov maintains that the charges are fabricated and politically motivated.

The arrests of "Ishchi Masasi" members began after a courier protest on 1 August 2023. Mammadov was initially given a 30-day administrative arrest sentence. Other members, including Elvin Mustafayev (a member of the Courier Union Trade Union) and Aykhan Israfilov (a board member of "Ishchi Masasi"), were arrested on drug charges in August 2023. Mohyaddin Orujov, another member, was arrested for 30 days for an administrative offence in October 2023 and then re-arrested shortly after his release on drug trafficking charges. Local human rights defenders have declared these individuals, including Mammadov, to be political prisoners.

The "Ishchi Masasi" Trade Unions Confederation was founded on 1 March 2022, with the aim of protecting workers' rights in Azerbaijan. Mammadov actively participated in protests concerning workers' labour rights and had faced administrative arrests multiple times for minor hooliganism and disobeying police orders prior to his criminal charges.

Threats and Official Responses

Following Mammadov's public statements about the "intolerable antisanitary conditions" at Penitentiary Institution No. 2, the institution's management allegedly began applying psychological pressure and threatened to transfer him to a higher-security closed penal institution. Mammadov has informed his family that the issues he has publicised are not just about public and political activists, but concern the rights of all prisoners.

The Penitentiary Service and other official bodies have not provided a specific response to Mammadov's recent allegations. However, the Service has previously stated in response to similar complaints that conditions in Azerbaijani correctional facilities meet standards and legal requirements.

Zahid Oruj, Chairman of the Milli Majlis Human Rights Committee, acknowledged that while prisons are not "sanatoriums," if problems exist, they should be resolved. He noted that the Ministry of Justice and the penitentiary system are aware of such issues and expressed belief that they would be resolved swiftly. Oruj also highlighted that the Ombudsman's annual reports to parliament frequently point to overcrowding, with facilities sometimes holding 1.5 times their capacity. He cautioned against some individuals exaggerating problems for special privileges, but emphasised that issues must be addressed regardless of who raises them.

In a related development, the European Court of Human Rights issued a decision on 28 May 2024, regarding a complaint by another "Ishchi Masasi" member, Aykhan Israfilov. The Azerbaijani government accepted a unilateral declaration in this case, acknowledging a rights violation.