05 November 2020, 11:34
Azerbaijani journalist sentenced to seven years in jail
A court in Baku has found Afghan Sadygov, the head of the "Azel.tv" website, guilty of extortion through threats and sentenced him to seven years in prison. The journalist himself has claimed falsification of the criminal case and again went on a hunger strike.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the wife of Afghan Sadygov believes that her husband is being persecuted for his journalistic activities and statements in social networks; and he himself has treated the accusation as slander.
According to investigators, on May 9, 2020, Afghan Sadygov and Sakit Muradov, the head of the "Xəbərfakt.az" website, met with officials of the city of Sumgait and demanded 15,000 manats (about USD 9000) under a threat of publishing incriminating information about them. Sadygov and Muradov were detained on May 13, while receiving 10,000 manats (about USD 6000).
Sevindj Sadygova believes that her husband "was enticed into a provocation."
In June, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Azerbaijani authorities to release Sadygov.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 4, 2020 at 08:07 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medjid Source: CK correspondent
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