International Committee for Protection of Journalists asks Azerbaijani authorities to drop charges against Fatullaev

The New York-based International Committee for Protection of Journalists has condemned the August 22 decision of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upholding the 30-month custody verdict in relation to Einullah Fatullaev, editor-in-chief of newspapers "Gyundalik Azerbaijan" and "Real Azerbaijan."

The statement of the Committee that has arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent draws special attention to the fact that Fatullaev's representatives and advocate were not informed about the hearings at the Supreme Court, and the court session was held without their participation and at the absence of journalists. Fatullaev's defence is going to appeal against the decision of the Azerbaijani Court to the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg.

"We address the Azerbaijani authorities with a demand to drop all the charges against Fatullaev, immediately release the journalist and allow his two newspapers to restart without any fear of potential repressions," Joel Simon, head of the International Committee for Protection of Journalists, has stated.

The statement also runs that seven journalists are currently in custody in Azerbaijan, and the country holds a sad leadership in this indicator among the countries of Europe and Central Asia.