A Baku prosecutor has requested a prison sentence for the uncle of an opposition blogger.

In Azerbaijan, a prosecutor has requested a three-year prison sentence for Elmir Sadygov, the uncle of opposition blogger Tural Sadygly, in a drug trafficking case. The defense considers the prosecution of Elmir Sadygly unfounded.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," Elmir Sadygly, the uncle of opposition blogger and political émigré Tural Sadygly, was arrested in Azerbaijan in April on charges of illegal possession of ammunition. The activist links his uncle's arrest to his criticism of the Azerbaijani government. Tural Sadigli is the administrator of the Azad söz (Free Speech) Facebook page*, which sharply criticizes the policies of the Azerbaijani government. In May 2019, the Azerbaijani Prosecutor's Office opened a criminal case against the exiled blogger, and he is wanted by Interpol. On March 17, investigators demanded six political emigrants, including Tural Sadigli, to return to Azerbaijan in connection with the criminal prosecution.

At the trial of Elmir Sadigov in the Sabunchi District Court of Baku, the state prosecutor, in his closing argument, asked the court to sentence him to three years in prison.

As the brother of the accused, Alovsat Sadygly, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Elmir Sadygly denied the charges against him.

"Of course, the charges are fabricated. His arrest is intended to take revenge on our family because of my son, Tural Sadygly, who criticized the government. They can't get Tural and are taking out their revenge and anger on his relatives. My other son, Elgiz Sadygly, was arrested in the past in a drug case," said Alovsat Sadygly, a member of the Committee Against Torture and Repression.

The defendant's lawyer, Nazim Musayev, stated that there was no credible evidence of his client's guilt. "During the trial, numerous defense motions were denied. This demonstrates the court's bias against him. The prosecutor also requested the maximum possible sentence for Elmir Sadygov, despite the fact that he has no previous convictions, is a veteran of the first Karabakh war, and is no longer young, he is 60 years old," Musayev told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He drew attention to the fact that Article 228.1 of the Criminal Code (illegal arms trafficking) with which Sadygov is charged also provides for other penalties not related to imprisonment - correctional labor for up to two years.

According to him, the defense will insist on Sadygov's acquittal.

An employee of the Sabunchi court confirmed the information about the speech Prosecutor in the E. Sadygov case.

Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment.