There is growing concern about the health of Isa Yasar Tezel, a journalist of Turkish nationality working for Turkish public radio and television (TRT), who was arrested in the capital, Baku, on 16 April 1996. The doctor at Bailov prison, where he is being held, reportedly made an extremely pessimistic prognosis on 28 May. Tezel, […]
There is growing concern about the health of Isa Yasar Tezel, a
journalist of Turkish nationality working for Turkish public
radio and television (TRT), who was arrested in the capital,
Baku, on 16 April 1996. The doctor at Bailov prison, where he is
being held, reportedly made an extremely pessimistic prognosis on
28 May. Tezel, who has been tortured in prison, is suffering from
heart problems and is reported to have been taken to hospital
with very high blood pressure.
Tezel arrived in Azerbaijan on 12 April when Turkish Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz was on an official visit. He is thought to
have been arrested while travelling in the same car as the former
Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Panah Husseinov, who has been
accused of a “crime against the state.” Tezel was later formally
charged under articles 82-1 (“concealing a crime against the
state”), 187-1 (“concealing a crime involving embezzlement of
public funds”) and 189-1 (“resisting arrest”) of Azerbaijan’s
Penal Code. His lawyer said that none of the allegations had been
proven, and that Tezel was in contact with Husseinov in his
capacity as a journalist only.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
and calling on them to do everything in their power to ensure his
well-being
Appeals To
His Excellency Haidar Aliyev
President of Azerbaijan
Baku, Azerbaijan
Fax: +8922 92 17 63
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
