Attempt on journalist Agyl Khalilov's life committed in Azerbaijan

Yesterday, on the night of March 13, two unknown persons attacked Agyl Khalilov, correspondent of the opposition newspaper "Azadlyg" in Azerbaijan, near his house and inflicted knife wounds on him.

Azer Akhmedov, director of the newspaper, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the journalist, bleeding with blood, had managed to get to the nearest police station and applied for help.

According to А.Akhmedov, the persons who attacked the journalist had been following him for several days. When he came out of the editorial office and headed home the unknown persons ran up to him and struck him with a knife.

The journalist is convinced that they are mercenaries of the state officials whom he unmasked in his articles in relation to unlawful sale of land plots. After the publication of the article those persons offered money to the correspondent for dropping the topic but the journalist refused.

Akhmedov also says that the incident has already been made known to the state agencies and foreign embassies.

For reference, on February 22 of the current year, Agyl Khalilov was brutally beaten. The correspondent had his finger broken and was inflicted serious wounds on his head and body. Khalilov was saved by local resident who came hearing him shout.