Azerbaijan, Baku, 19 August / Trend corr. K.Zarbaliyeva / Murderous assault was committed on Mirza Sakit, a journalist of the opposition Azadlig newspaper. Sakit is accused of illegal drug trafficking and serves his sentence. This was told Trend by Sakit's attorney Alaif Hasanov.
According to the attorney, Sakit said that another prisoner was ordered to break up a conflict with him. Hasanov considers that Sakitb may face serious threat.
Prisoner confessed to cellmates that he was ordered to kill Sakit. The prisoner was transferred to another punishment cell," the attorney said.
In this connection, Emin Hasanov, officer of Penal Service, met with Sakit. Hasanov promised to transfer Sakit to another prison.
Hasanov is to appeal to the Penal Service and General Prosecutor Office to hold investigation over the fact and demand prison's chief resignation.
Malik Alakparov, Chief of the Punishment Inspection Centre under the Justice Ministry, denied the information regarding the assault. Hasanov meets with the journalists frequently, Alakparov said.
Sakit has appealed to the Penal Service with a request to transfer him to another prison. According to Alakparov, for this reason Sakit distributes such information. "At present, Sakit's appeal is being considered," Alakparov said.
Alakparov disclosed that one of Sakit's daughters was not allowed to meet with him due to absence of documents.
Mehman Sadigov, Head of the Centre on Public Relations under the Penal Service, denied attorney's statements.
"Sakit does not face any threat in the prison. The prison leadership provides security for prisoners," Sadigov said.
In 2006, Sakit was accused of illegal drug trafficking and sentenced to three years of imprisonment.
Appeal and Supreme Courts upheld the sentence.
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