Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend K.Zarbaliyeva / A number of inmates at Gobustan closed prison, who have been sentenced to life-imprisonment, began a hunger strike three days ago. The sister of Dayanat Kerimova, Nubar Kerimova, who has been sentenced to life-imprisonment, said on 16 April that her brother and 30 other prisoners have begun a hunger strike. The prisoners demand that their life-sentences should be commuted to a 15-year term. Kerimova said that the prisoners decided to begin the action exactly at the time of the session of PACE over Azerbaijan.
The Chief of the Penal Service Department, Rafik Ramazanov, said that he was aware of the preparation of the action amongst the prisoners. However, he was not informed at the beginning of the action.