Court convicts two journalists
A newspaper editor and a journalist from the same
publication are facing jail in Azerbaijan.
Sardar Alibayli, the acting chief editor of the low-profile Nota newspaper, and Faramaz Allahverdiyev, his subordinate, were sentenced to three months` detention, according to a ruling issued by a Baku court last week. However, the judge suspended the execution of the ruling until an appeal filed by the defense is heard.
According to a plea filed by Tahmasib Novruzov, the head of the Freedom Movement activists` union, Alibayli was found guilty of committing an insult, while Allahverdiyev - of libel related to the commission of a grave crime.
Another employee of Nota, Ramiz Taghiyev, was found guilty on the same charge as Allahverdiyev, but he was sentenced to only six months of reformatory work.
Novruzov`s lawsuit was prompted by articles published in the newspaper in April-May.
Alibayli and Allahverdiyev had been previously prosecuted for libel. In January 2007 Allahverdiyev was sentenced to two years in jail, while Alibayli was handed down a suspended sentence of 18 months. In December 2007, the jailed journalist was released following a presidential pardon decree.
Three journalists are currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Though the media representatives were convicted on various charges, they claim their arrests were due to their work.
Sardar Alibayli, the acting chief editor of the low-profile Nota newspaper, and Faramaz Allahverdiyev, his subordinate, were sentenced to three months` detention, according to a ruling issued by a Baku court last week. However, the judge suspended the execution of the ruling until an appeal filed by the defense is heard.
According to a plea filed by Tahmasib Novruzov, the head of the Freedom Movement activists` union, Alibayli was found guilty of committing an insult, while Allahverdiyev - of libel related to the commission of a grave crime.
Another employee of Nota, Ramiz Taghiyev, was found guilty on the same charge as Allahverdiyev, but he was sentenced to only six months of reformatory work.
Novruzov`s lawsuit was prompted by articles published in the newspaper in April-May.
Alibayli and Allahverdiyev had been previously prosecuted for libel. In January 2007 Allahverdiyev was sentenced to two years in jail, while Alibayli was handed down a suspended sentence of 18 months. In December 2007, the jailed journalist was released following a presidential pardon decree.
Three journalists are currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Though the media representatives were convicted on various charges, they claim their arrests were due to their work.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!