All three imprisoned women journalists from Abzas Media have announced they will begin a hunger strike on 22 July, in solidarity with the outlet’s jailed director, Ulvi Hasanli.

The announcement was shared by editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi through her family, stating that she, along with colleagues Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, will join the protest to demand Hasanli’s return to Baku Pretrial Detention Centre.

Hasanli declared the start of his own hunger strike on 20 July, accusing the Penitentiary Service of defying a court order that mandated his transfer back to Baku.

Following a 20 June verdict sentencing Abzas Media staff to seven and a half to nine years in prison, male detainees, including Hasanli, were moved from Baku Pretrial Detention Centre to the high-security complex in Umbaki.

Hasanli had previously gone on a nine-day hunger strike to protest his transfer to the Umbaki penitentiary facility and the mistreatment he was subjected to there, including solitary confinement and the denial of visits with his wife and young daughter.

Then, Abzas Media’s imprisoned women journalists — Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova joined the protest.

Five other women journalists detained in connection with the “Meydan TV case” — Aynur Elgunesh, Aytaj Tapdig, Khayala Agayeva, Aysel Umudova and Fatima Movlamli have also joined the hunger strike.

The hunger strike ended after Ulvi Hasanli was promised the transfer by the Umbaki prison authorities on 4 July.