Writer and blogger Rashad Ramazanov is on hunger strike and in poor health. He is one of several Azerbaijani prisoners, activists and opposition figures to join a hunger strike in solidarity with jailed anti-corruption blogger Mehman Huseynov, against whom the Azerbaijani authorities brought new spurious charges in December 2018, just weeks before his scheduled release. Rashad Ramazanov is also protesting against his own continued detention on politically-motivated grounds. He was arrested almost six years ago and sentenced to nine years in prison on fabricated charges of drug possession and drug sale.

PEN is deeply concerned for his health and well-being and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

For further background information, please visit the PEN International website.

TAKE ACTION

Spread the word

Share on Facebook, Twitter and other social media: #RashadRamazanov

Send messages of support

Please send messages of support to Rashad Ramazanov in prison at the following address:

Baku Prison #2
2 Cezachekme Muessisesi,
Khazar Rayonu, Bina Qesebesi,
AZ 1045 Baku
Azerbaijan

Please do not mention specifics of the current hunger strike and, if possible, please share a photo of your message with us (via [email protected]) and on social media: #PENgreetings.

Rashad Ramazanov is an honorary member of PEN Canada, which has been at the forefront of an international solidarity campaign with him and his family. More information about PEN Canada’s activities and solidarity campaign and how to get involved here.

Write to the authorities

Please send appeals to the Azerbaijani authorities via your embassy:

• Protesting Rashad Ramazanov’s detention on politically-motivated charges, and calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally and to overturn his conviction and sentence;
• Expressing serious concern for his health and well-being and ensuring that, pending his release, he is provided with adequate medical care;
• Condemning the Azerbaijani authorities’ attempts to bring new charges against unjustly imprisoned critics in order to detain them longer, and calling on them to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained;
• Calling on the Azerbaijani authorities to comply with their obligations under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (to which Azerbaijan is a state party) to protect the right to freedom of expression.

Please send your letters via the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in your country: addresses may be found here. We advise that you send appeals immediately, and check with PEN if sending appeals after 16 February 2019.

Please inform PEN of any action you take and of any responses you receive.