In Azerbaijan, Hilal Mamedov faces charges of treason and inciting ethnic hatred

In Azerbaijan, new criminal charges under Articles of treason and inciting ethnic hatred were filed against Ghilal (Hilal) Mamedov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" (Voice of Talysh) and the deputy head of the Talysh Cultural Centre. This was reported by Rafiq Djalilov, co-Chairman of the "Committee to Protect Hilal Mamedov' Rights".

Today, according to Rafiq Djalilov, Anar Gasymov, the lawyer of Hilal Mamedov, reported on new charges, filed against his client under Articles 274 (treason) and 283.2.2 (inciting national, racial, social and religious hatred, hostility, and ethnic discrimination) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

Rafiq Djalilov called the new charges, filed against Hilal Mamedov, absurd.

"This is just ridiculous accusations: the fact of treason is revealed not by the Ministry of National Security, but an investigator of the district police," stated Rafiq Djalilov in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to him, in the course of the investigation into "the case on drugs", the investigator of the Nizami District Police Department of Baku revealed that Hilal Mamedov had committed treason, and that was represented by his "relations with Russia and Iran."

Rafiq Djalilov has emphasized that, as far as the charges of inciting ethnic hatred are concerned, nothing at all has been reported. At present, according to the co-Chairman of the "Committee to Protect Hilal Mamedov' Rights", the investigation is to be conducted by the Department for Serious Crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent did not managed to obtain comment of the lawyer Anar Gasymov because of his busyness.

Ramiz Mamedov, another lawyer of the activist, has confirmed that new charges had been filed against his client. However, at present, he is not aware of details of new charges.

Eldar Sultanov, Press Secretary of the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan, also confirmed the information on the new charges, filed against Hilal Mamedov. Eldar Sultanov refraining from comments; however, he has noted that during today, the official statement of the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office will be released.