10:54, 25 July 2019

Relative of oppositional journalist placed into dungeon in Azerbaijan

A participant of the rally in Baku demands to release political prisoners. Photo by Aziz Karimov for the "Caucasian Knot"

Emin Shagiev, declared a political prisoner by rights defenders, was placed into dungeon (punishment cell), Djamil Gasanli, the chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) has informed, condemning the Azerbaijani authorities for persecuting relatives of journalists and activists, who are in political emigration.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in October 2018, Emin Shagiev, a relative of Tyurkel Azertyurk, a journalist of the oppositional "Turan" TV Channel, was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of drug dealing. Azertyurk believes that his relative is persecuted because of his (Tyurkel's) work for oppositional media abroad.

Tyurkel Azertyurk, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was subjected to administrative arrests in Azerbaijan many times for his participation in oppositional protests in 2013-2015. In 2016, he left Azerbaijan for leaving abroad.

Djamil Gasanli, the NCDF chairman, has condemned the Azerbaijani authorities for persecuting relatives of the journalists and activists, who are in political emigration, the "Turan" News Agency reports.

In the study, conducted by the Union "For Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan", Emin Shagiev was included into the group of hostages, who are persecuted for political activities of their relatives.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 25, 2019 at 08:44 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.