21 February 2008, 17:42
"Reporters without Borders": Azerbaijani authorities take revenge on oppositional editor
"Reporters without Borders" express their regret that the Public Prosecutor has asked to convict Ganimat Zakhidov, editor of the "Azadlyg", one of leading oppositional newspapers of Azerbaijan, to 5 years of imprisonment. This is the topic of the statement of this organization received by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. "We cannot understand the logic and the reason for the severity of the demanded Zakhidov's punishment," runs the document.
"All this is only strengthening our suspicion that the authorities manipulate the 'suspicious incident' and take revenge on Zakhidov for his criticism of the government in the pages of his newspaper. We have an impression that the trial is dictated more likely by a desire of revenge than by justice," the statement says.
Let us note here that yesterday, on February 20, at Ganimat Zakhidov's trial, the state prosecutor asked the court to sentence the defendant to 5 years of imprisonment.
Earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" informed that on November 11 last year by the ruling of the court Ganimat Zakhidov was sentenced to two months of custody on charges of inflicting minor bodily injuries and hooliganism.
Author: Rafael Gasanov, CK correspondent
