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’.