29 January 2015, 18:07
Court in Azerbaijan sentences journalist Seymour Ghazi to five years in prison
The Absheron District Court has found the Azerbaijani journalist Seymour Ghazy guilty of hooliganism and sentenced him to five years in prison. The other figurant in the criminal case, Magerram Gasanov was awarded with a six months' imprisonment.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Seymour Ghazi, an observer for the newspaper "Azadlig" (Freedom) and a member of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), was detained on August 29, 2014. According to law enforcers, the journalist beat up a stranger named Magerram Gasanov. On September 6, it was announced about the arrest of Gasanov himself, who, according to the prosecutor's office, insulted and punched Ghazy.
On November 11, the Absheron District Court began hearing the case, where the above two figurants occurred in the prisoner's dock.
Adil Ismailov, the defender for Ghazy, believes that his client is persecuted for political reasons, because he is one of the most influential figures of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), a member of the NCDF, a journalist, who criticized the authorities in the "Azadlig", the online-programme "Azerbaijani Hour", and on the Facebook.
He stressed that a pre-planned provocation was undertaken against Ghazy.
Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners, said that the verdict is unfair.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
