In Baku, Court of Appeal reduces sentence to Iranian TV journalist

Today, in Baku, Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Abid Abdinbekov, considered an appeal, filed by Anar Bairamly, a staff member of the representative office of the Iranian TV in Azerbaijan. The Court has partially granted the appeal and reduced the journalist's punishment from 2 years of imprisonment to 1 year of imprisonment.

Anar Bairamly, the correspondent of the "Sugar", the Iranian satellite TV Channel, broadcasted in Azerbaijani language in Azerbaijan, was arrested on February 17 on charges of illegal drug possession. On June 11, the Binagadi District Court of Baku found him guilty of the crime and sentenced him to 2 years of imprisonment.

In his appeal, Anar Bairamly asked the Court to fully rehabilitate him and cancel the verdict of guilty. This was reported by Eldar Bairamly, the journalist's brother.

"Of course, it is good that the Court of Appeal has reduced the sentence. However, we believe that it is wrong to keep an innocent man in prison on fabricated charges. My brother is a deeply religious man, and he totally rejects all that contradicts religion and morality, and above all, drugs," Eldar Bairamly told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Anar Gasymov, the journalist's lawyer, also believes that the charges against Anar Bairamly were falsified and that the courts did not conduct an objective investigation. According to him, the first instance court did not take into account the conflicting testimonies of witnesses, including police officers.