ECtHR awards compensations for persecutions of Azerbaijani journalists

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has found a violation of the freedom of expression in the criminal cases initiated against the late publicist, Rafig Tagi, and the journalist, Samir Sadagatoglu. The ECtHR has ruled that compensations should be paid to Sadagatoglu and Tagi's widow in the total amount of over 25,000 euros.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2006, Rafig Tagi and Samir Sadagatoglu, the editor-in-chief of the "Senet" newspaper, were arrested after publishing the article "We and Europe", which caused Muslims' discontent. In May 2007, Messrs Sadagatoglu and Tagi were sentenced to prison on charges of inciting inter-religion hatred.

On December 5, 2019, the ECtHR announced its decision on the complaint of Tagi and Sadagatoglu.

The ECtHR has concluded that national courts "had arbitrarily interpreted the article in the 'Senet' newspaper as incitement to religious hatred and enmity by extracting isolated fragments out of the context."

Besides, the ECtHR believes that Sadagatoglu and Tagi had been sentenced to disproportionately severe punishments – four and three years of imprisonment, respectively.

The ECtHR has obliged the Azerbaijani authorities to pay 12,000 euros for moral harm and 850 euros to reimburse legal costs and expenses to Sadagatoglu and Tagi's widow each.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 5, 2019 at 09:54 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.