Rights defenders condemn Abid Gafarov's arrest

Two Azerbaijani human rights organizations have condemned the verdict to Abid Gafarov, the host of the KIM TV YouTube channel, pointing to the political motive for his prosecution – his posts on the facts of torture against the figurants in the so-called "Terter case".

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that veterans of the 2nd Karabakh War demanded to bring Gafarov, who is also the head of the "Baku Unity" Association, to justice for slander and insult. On July 13, the court sentenced him to a year in prison, finding him guilty of these offences.

The NGOs "Propaganda of Human Rights" and Laws and "Centre for Investigating Torture" have condemned Gafarov's verdict, the "Turan" News Agency has reported.

The arrest of Abid Gafarov was "a continuation of the campaign of arrests and punishments" against critics of violations committed in the "Terter case", in particular, torture of defendants and suspects, human rights defenders assert.

They have demanded to release political prisoners, and also called on the Azerbaijani authorities to respect the citizens' right to the freedom of speech.