15 July 2006, 20:21
Journalist Arrested in Azerbaijan is Worse
Yesterday, July 14, the state of health of Sakid Zakhidov, the satirist journalist arrested in Azerbaijan, sharply deteriorated, told Emin Husseinov, head of committee for the protection of S. Zakhidov's rights, to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
He said that such deterioration resulted from stuffiness in the cell where a lot of other prisoners were held. "Unbearable hotness and lack of oxygen drastically affect the condition of people suffering from cardio-vascular diseases, and S. Zakhidov has been suffering from heart failure for many years," said the committee's head. Emin Husseinov also said that the investigation of Zakhidov's case has been under way for more than a week already.
Sakid Zakhidov was arrested on June 23 on the charge of drug trafficking. However, he is sure that the drug was planted by the police, and the case framed up upon a political order of the authorities sharply criticized by Sakid Zakhidov.
Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent