Defence of journalist Seymour Khazi to file complaint to ECtHR

The decisions of the Azerbaijani courts in the case against Seymour Khazi, a journalist of the newspaper "Azadlyg", are illegal. This was stated by his advocate Fakhraddin Mekhtiev. The advocate has added that the defence intends to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on January 29, 2015, Seymour Khazi, an observer of the newspaper "Azadlyg" (Freedom), was sentenced to five years of imprisonment on the charge of involvement in beating of a Magherram Gasanov in 2014. The defence has filed a cassation appeal against the sentence. However, today, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan has dismissed it.

"We did not expect any other decision from the Supreme Court. The case was originally not fair, and it was finished unfair. All motions filed by our advocates were dismissed. Of course, this is a political case. Seymour is being punished for his journalistic activities, for his article," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Mashgyul Khaziev, the father of the journalist.

In his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, advocate Fakhraddin Mekhtiev has also expressed his disagreement with the decision of the Supreme Court.

"The decisions of the Azerbaijani courts in the case against Seymour Khazi are unfounded, illegitimate, and unjust. Seymour Khazi is sentenced on the basis of fabricated evidence. We will file an appeal against the sentence to the European Court of Human Rights," said Fakhraddin Mekhtiev.

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