Azerbaijani blogger suspected of new crime before going free

Mekhman Guseinov, convicted in Azerbaijan on charges of libel against policemen, was suspected of beating up a colony employee. They want to prevent the regime's critic from being released, rights defenders believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 3, 2017, Guseinov was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of defamation, because he had declared torture after detention. After serving half of the punishment term, the blogger petitioned for his conditional early relief (CER), but was refused. Guseinov has also complained about of psychological pressure in jail.

During a search in the colony, Guseinov applied force to a lieutenant of justice, the public relations department of the Azerbaijani Penitentiary Service has stated. Besides, Guseinov scattered things in the office premise, the Service has stated.

Emin Guseinov, Mekhman's brother, now the IRFS director, has treated the new criminal case against the blogger as a provocation.

"Mekhman was told that they would punish him for the fact that in August, when he was released to our mother's funeral, he accused the ruling regime of her death and stated that he would continue exposing corruption among the authorities," said Emin Guseinov.

Khadija Ismayilova, a journalist and rights defender, has also expressed concern about the continuation in Azerbaijan of politically motivated arrests.