07 December 2017, 17:07
Azerbaijani journalist Makhbub Zulfugarly released
In Azerbaijan, Makhbub Zulfugarly, a journalist and activist, sentenced to five months of imprisonment on the charge of defamation, has served his sentence and has been released. He intends to seek his rehabilitation at the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that freelance journalist Makhbub Zulfugarly was sentenced by the court to imprisonment on the private lawsuit on defamation, filed by a local official. Rights defenders questioned the legal validity of the charge and the verdict.
On December 6, the journalist who was serving his sentence in a penal colony in Baku, was released after the expiry of his sentence, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
"I have served the whole sentence. The Court of Appeal dismissed my complaint. I will seek my rehabilitation at the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan. I was kept in a prison during five months because of my journalistic activities," Makhbub Zulfugarly told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
According to the journalist, he also intends to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
