Appeal court does not satisfy Sevinj Vagifgyzy's petition

Baku/27.11.23/Turan: The Baku Court of Appeal today rejected the appeal against the arrest of "Abzas Media" editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgyzy, accused of smuggling foreign currency.

Ofelia Magerramova, the mother of the arrested woman, told reporters that her daughter is not guilty, she was arrested on trumped-up charges.

"The prosecution claims to have found a large sum of money in the editorial office, but why didn't they take fingerprints from the banknotes, because there are no fingerprints of Sevinj on them," she said.

According to Magerramova, Vagifghyzy is prevented from having telephone contact with her family.

"My daughter knew that she would be arrested in Baku and we knew it, I called my daughter abroad and asked her not to return. However, Sevinj is a courageous person, she said she would act as journalist and let the authorities do their job," Magerramova said.

*Vagifgyzy, "Abzas Media" director Ulvi Hasanli and activist Mohammad Kekalov were detained on 20-21 November. They are charged under Article 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code.

They denied the charges, international organisations called for the release of the arrested. -0-