Avaz Zeynalli Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison

Today the Baku Court of Grave Crimes has sentenced the editor of the Khural newspaper Avaz Zeynalli.

 
Judge Ramella Allahverdiyeva sentenced the journalist to 9 years in prison without confiscation of property to be served in a penal colony. At the same time, Zeynalli is forbidden to engage in commercial activities after release for one year. In addition, he should transfer AZN 4,076 to the treasury for the caused losses.
 
Zeynalli was arrested in October 2011, and the case against him began in May 2012.
 
 The court found Zeynalli guilty under Articles 311.3.3 (bribery on a large scale), 311.4 (extortion by threats), 306 (no execution of a court decision) and 213.1 (evasion of taxes in a significant amount) of the Criminal Code.
 
Earlier, the prosecutor asked to condemn Zeynalli to 11 years in prison.
 
The editor was arrested on the complaint of the ex-deputy Gular Akhmedova, who herself is now under arrest for fraud.
 
At trial, the journalist completely denied the charges and said that he was arrested by order of the head of the presidential administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev and the head of the Administration’s Public Policy Department, Ali Hasanov.
 
At the beginning of the hearing Zeynalli required to remove the ANS TV channel’s crew from the courtroom, stating that «ANS sold its good pen."
The audience took the verdict, chanting "freedom".
 
Zeynalli himself congratulated those present on the occasion of Chershebe (Tuesday on the eve of Novruz), and encouraged them to go home.
On the firm belief of many local and international organizations Zeynalli was punished for his professional activities, and in particular in respect of his articles exposing senior officials. -16/06D-

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