Iranian TV reporter convicted on drug charges
A court in the Azerbaijani capital Baku has sentenced a local journalist working for an Iranian television channel to two years in jail for illegal drugs possession.
Anar Bayramli, a 32-year-old Azerbaijani citizen who works as a reporter for Iranian Sahar TV, was detained in February for possessing some 0.4 grams of heroin.
Bayramli denied the charges and linked the arrest to his work. Bairamli`s relatives say they will appeal the verdict, which was issued on Monday.
Azerbaijani officials have accused Sahar TV of broadcasting Iran`s propaganda into neighboring Azerbaijan.
Tensions between the Islamic republic and Baku have escalated in recent months, after Azerbaijani authorities arrested a number of men with links to Iran who were reportedly plotting attacks in Azerbaijan.
Relations have also been strained recently over reported closer ties between Azerbaijan and Iranian rival Israel.
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