Mekhman Guseinov. Photo: RFE/RL

12 April 2017, 12:13

Verdict to Azerbaijani blogger Mekhman Guseinov upheld

Today, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) has refused to grant a complaint against the verdict to blogger Mekhman Guseinov. Public activists treat the verdict as politically motivated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 3, the Surakhani District Court of Baku found Mekhman Guseinov, the chief of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), guilty of defamation and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment. The Azerbaijani authorities deny the political motive in the case against Mekhman Guseinov. However, human rights defenders believe that the Mekhman Guseinov's sentence is connected with his blogger's activities.

At the today's court session, the courtroom designed for 30 seats was crowded with supporting bloggers and activists. Representatives of the Embassies of France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the EU mission also attended the trial.

The judge announced that the complaint was dismissed and the verdict was upheld.

The defence intends to file a cassation appeal against the verdict. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Elchin Sadygov, a blogger's advocate.

Oktai Gyulyalyev, the leader of the Public Alliance "Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners", has called the BCA's decision in the Mekhman Guseinov's case an "execution of a political order."

"This is obviously a politically motivated case. Mekhman Guseinov was subjected to torture, and he was sentenced for making that fact public. The real reason for the arrest is an exposure of corruption among top-ranking officials and oligarchs," suggested Oktai Gyulyalyev.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent

All news
НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ООО “МЕМО”, ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ООО “МЕМО”.

March 27, 2024 16:51

March 27, 2024 14:49

March 26, 2024 23:13

  • Analysts dispute on risks of IS'* intensifying in Northern Caucasus

    After the terror act at the Crocus City Hall, in Northern Caucasus, there is a risk of intensification of militants of the IS*, although no terror acts on civilians have not been observed there since 2018. This was noted by Sergey Goncharov, a veteran of special services, and Andrei Koshkin, a military expert.

March 26, 2024 20:26

March 26, 2024 19:40

News archive