Activists Gasanzade and Turksoi released in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, journalist Elchin Gasanzade and blogger Ibragim Turksoi were released from prison after serving the sentence in a case on slander and insult. Both activists will go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) to challenge the legality of the verdict.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 2, the court sentenced Elchin Gasanzade and Ibragim Turksoi to eight months of imprisonment. Human rights defenders considered the sentence too harsh and claimed that the convicts were being prosecuted for criticizing the authorities.

A lawsuit against Elchin Gasanzade and Ibragim Turksoi was filed by an official from Mingachevir, who considered the critical posts about himself on social media as slander and insult.

“I was punished for fighting corruption. We found that senior officials of Mingachevir owned expensive real estate from. Such property cannot be purchased with the salary of a public sector employee ... But I am determined to continue my journalistic and human rights activities,” Elchin Gasanzade stated.

The journalist noted that he got health problems in prison.

Let us remind you that Elchin Gasanzade and Ibragim Turksoi were included in the list of political prisoners released on June 4 by the human rights Union “For Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan”.