Head of Azel.tv Website, Afghan Sadigov, Detained

Baku / 13.05.20 / Turan: The head of the Azel.tv website, Afghan Sadigov, was detained by the General Directorate for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General on May 13.

This was reported to Turan by his lawyer Elchin Sadigov.

“The detention of the journalist was confirmed in the General Directorate for Combating Corruption under the Prosecutor General. However, they did not tell me what exactly they accuse him of,” the lawyer said.

A. Sadigov’s spouse Sevinge Sadigova on her Facebook page wrote the journalist was detained on May 13, after which a search was made in their apartment.

 “My phone and computer were illegally seized. Yes, I find it illegal. Afghan is accused of corruption, but only 30 manats was found from the apartment where he lives. This is not an accidental arrest and the customers are known. Then they took Afghan’s manuscripts. Because of his articles and speeches, he was always a target,” Sadigova wrote.

The authorities have not yet commented on the journalist’s detention.

Earlier, Aghil Nazarli, the head of the Lachin District Executive Authority, filed a lawsuit against A. Sadigov in a private criminal charge. The official asked the court to bring A. Sadigov under Art. 147.2 (defamation of a crime) of the Criminal Code.

The trial was scheduled for May 15 in the Jalilabad District Court.

A. Sadigov was previously subjected to criminal and administrative prosecutions. On November 22, 2016, he was arrested and sentenced to 2.5 years in prison on charges of hooliganism. Later, the sentence was reduced by 1 year. He was recognized as a political prisoner.

After his release, he was arrested several times on administrative matters.

A. Sadigov stated that he was persecuted for political reasons. –03B06