Two journalists freed
Two Azerbaijani journalists were released from jail
on Thursday.
Mirza Sakit, a contributor to the opposition daily Azadlig, who was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2006 on charges of drug possession, was pardoned under an amnesty adopted by the Milli Majlis (parliament) on March 17.
The journalist claimed he had been convicted due to his writings that were critical of the authorities.
In an interview with Voice of America (VoA), Sakit called his release "a delayed decision."
"This decision has been delayed, and the government should apologize for it. As if they were expecting gratitude from me."
Anne Derse, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, told reporters that her country welcomed the release of Sakit. "The United States hopes that similar steps will be taken with regard to other journalists," she said.
Another journalist, Asif Marzili, the editor-in-chief of the Tezadlar newspaper, had been sentenced to one-year in prison by a Baku district court on April 7 following a claim filed by Elshad Abdullayev, the rector of the Azerbaijan International University, on charges of libel and insult of honor and dignity. Two days later, however, the Court of Appeals of Baku ruled to release him after reviewing a plea filed by the defense.
Marzili later told the VoA that he greatly appreciated the ruling.
"We are grateful to the head of state that timely intereference was exerted in the matter and, citing the injustice committed against us, the ruling handed down by the judge was immediately invalidated and the judges who tackled the proceedings were severely reprimanded in accord with a relevant court decision."
Zumrud Mammadli, an independent journalist cooperating with Tezadlar, had been sentenced to six months of forced labor. The Court of Appeals overruled that sentence as well.
Mirza Sakit, a contributor to the opposition daily Azadlig, who was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2006 on charges of drug possession, was pardoned under an amnesty adopted by the Milli Majlis (parliament) on March 17.
The journalist claimed he had been convicted due to his writings that were critical of the authorities.
In an interview with Voice of America (VoA), Sakit called his release "a delayed decision."
"This decision has been delayed, and the government should apologize for it. As if they were expecting gratitude from me."
Anne Derse, US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, told reporters that her country welcomed the release of Sakit. "The United States hopes that similar steps will be taken with regard to other journalists," she said.
Another journalist, Asif Marzili, the editor-in-chief of the Tezadlar newspaper, had been sentenced to one-year in prison by a Baku district court on April 7 following a claim filed by Elshad Abdullayev, the rector of the Azerbaijan International University, on charges of libel and insult of honor and dignity. Two days later, however, the Court of Appeals of Baku ruled to release him after reviewing a plea filed by the defense.
Marzili later told the VoA that he greatly appreciated the ruling.
"We are grateful to the head of state that timely intereference was exerted in the matter and, citing the injustice committed against us, the ruling handed down by the judge was immediately invalidated and the judges who tackled the proceedings were severely reprimanded in accord with a relevant court decision."
Zumrud Mammadli, an independent journalist cooperating with Tezadlar, had been sentenced to six months of forced labor. The Court of Appeals overruled that sentence as well.
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