Troubling Inmate Conditions at Lankaran Prison

Elnara Gasimova; Sevinj Vagifqizi; and Nargiz Absalamova

Abzas Media journalists Sevinj Vagifqizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova have written about the conditions at the Lankaran Penitentiary Complex, where they are being held.

The following is the letter as shared by Abzas Media:

«The news, "Get ready, you are going to Lankaran," reached some women held at Penitentiary Institution No. 4 in Baku while they were cooking, others while hanging laundry, and still others while washing in the shower. Surprised by the sudden news, the women were told to pack up immediately, before their questioning looks could be answered. On September 3rd, they were rushed out of the institution so quickly that they didn't have time to gather all their belongings. Two days after the 10 women arrived in Lankaran, their belongings were checked and handed over to them. During that time, they had to sleep in dusty rooms with dirty clothes. Until then, there was no women's penitentiary institution in Lankaran. In August of this year, Elgiz Ismayilov, the head of Penitentiary Institution No. 4, called the women registered in the southern region and asked if they wanted to go to the Lankaran Penitentiary Complex. From over a hundred inmates who agreed, 10 people were selected and made to write an application stating their desire to leave on September 3rd. However, the women were not informed about the actual transfer date. Less than an hour after the application, they were sent to Lankaran. When they were rushed out, the new complex was highly praised, suggesting they would find comfort and employment there. But as soon as they arrived, the women had to gather their strength and clean the single-story disciplinary solitary unit they were housed in, removing spiders, dust, dirt, and garbage. The cleaning took a week. Half of the women brought here had worked and received salaries at the Baku facility. After being brought to Lankaran, the names of 5 of them are still on the list of working inmates. Every month, a complex employee comes and makes them sign the salary sheet, but they are not paid their wages. The employee deposits only 10 manat into the prisoners' shop accounts and leaves. In reality, a minimum wage of 400 manat is recorded in their name. When they ask when they will receive the rest of the money, the complex employee gives them one answer: "Inshallah it will happen." (God willing, it will happen). The promise of "Inshallah it will happen" is heard here from the Complex Chief Babek Iskandarov to the Head of the Women's Block, Zamin Aliyev. For example, when they ask when the legally required production facilities and vocational schools will open, the officers say: "Inshallah it will happen." When they ask when there will be a doctor's office, an on-duty doctor, essential medicines, treatment equipment, specialist doctors, and a psychologist in the block, they give the same answer: "Be patient. Inshallah it will happen." When they further ask when a book-equipped library, computer, telephone, cinema, video call room, and gym will be available, a sentence beginning with "Inshallah" is constructed again. Here, they leave the state's responsibility to God. What remains is a building with nothing but stone walls, which are crumbling daily due to humidity. Mirsaleh Seyidov, the head of the Penitentiary Service, has also left the issues related to the complex's provision to the hope of God. For two months since their transfer here, the women have only been given toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and hygienic pads. The majority of the daily meals provided are emptied by the women from the pots into the trash can. Although the inmates suggested to the deputy chiefs that the food products used for cooking be given to them raw, none of them agreed. Instead, the tasteless, poor-quality food that is sent is continuously thrown into the garbage. The shower equipment is also frequently breaking down and being thrown away. When the poor-quality shower hoses break, they make the inmates pay for them. The last time, they identified the woman who was showering and demanded the money from her. When they ask the complex staff, they say, "What can we do, the Penitentiary Service doesn't provide equipment." How is it that the Penitentiary Service, which receives approximately 200 million manat annually from the state budget, eyes the inmate's pocket to buy a 10-manat shower hose? Who, then, is misappropriating the funds allocated for inventory from the state budget? Why is the complex, which has only 12 female inmates, struggling to provide them with the legally defined food, clothing, bedding, hygiene, and cleaning supplies? Almost two months have passed since the women were transferred to the complex. An employee of the Penitentiary Service named Lamiya, who visited them in Baku, promised the women that she would come to meet them and inquire about their conditions one month after they were transferred to Lankaran. When the women ask when the Penitentiary Service leadership will visit them, they hear one word: "Inshallah" (God willing)... But the word breaks there; "will come" is not said afterward.»

Azerbaijani journalists Sevinc Vagifqizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova from Abzas Media were jailed after the Abzas Media case began in November 2023. Vagifgizi, the chief editor, was arrested on November 20, 2023. Absalamova and Gasimova were arrested later. They were charged with smuggling and say they're innocent, claiming they are targeted for investigating high-level corruption. In June 2025, Vagifgizi got a 9-year sentence, and Absalamova and Gasimova each got 8 years; the sentences were confirmed in September 2025.