01:41, 25 July 2017

Faig Amirov sentenced to imprisonment

Faig Amirov, the financial director of the Azerbaijani newspaper "Azadlyg", is found guilty of inciting interreligious hostility and tax evasion.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Faig Amirov, the assistant to the chair of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was accused of inciting interreligious hostility and infringing the rights of citizens under the pretext of performing religious rites. In April 2017, he was also accused of tax evasion.

According to prosecutors, books associated with Turkish preacher Fethullah Gülen were found at the Faig Amirov's place. The opposition believes that the connection with Fethullah Gülen is far-fetched and is used as an excuse for arresting activists.

Faig Amirov was sentenced to 3 years and 3 months of imprisonment with a fine of 39,000 manats (almost 23,000 US dollars), the "APA" reports.

His advocates have called the court's decision absurd and announced their intention to appeal against the verdict, the "Radio Azattyk" reports.

Let us remind you that Faig Amirov is included in the list of 147 political prisoners, compiled by a working group of representatives of the Azerbaijani civil society.

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