Administrative Case Started against Avaz Zeynally (UPDATED)

BAKU / 19.12.17 / Turan: An administrative case has been launched against the journalist Avaz Zeynally, the lawyer Zibaida Sadigova told Turan.

According to her, the journalist was prosecuted under art. 535.1 (not subordination to legal requirements of police officers) of the Administrative Offenses Code.

The lawyer noted that Zeynally rejects the actions imputed to him.

On Wednesday, he will stand trial.

Zeynally is facing punishment in the form of a fine of 300 manats ($ 180) or arrest up to 30 days. --0----

* * *

2017 December 19 (Tuesday) 17:55:51

Avaz Zeynalli taken to the police

Baku/19.12.17/Turan:Avaz Zeynalli, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Khural, was taken to the police, his wife Malakhat Ghisuri said. According to her, at present he is in the 4th police department in Binagadi district. Zeynalli's wife shared her thoughts about his detention.

"For a long time Avaz Zeynalli went on air in social networks and talked about the activities of police officers in Binagadi district. He told me how the police often closed the Binagadi highway without any need, forcing people to walk several kilometers. Today the roads have been once again blocked without any warning. When Avaz wanted to take video of what was happening, he was insulted by a police officer," the spouse reported. Following the dispute that arose between a police officer and a journalist, the police officer took him to the Fourth police station, she noted. According to the spouse, she had already received a warning that her husband would be punished.

It was impossible to get comments in the Fourth police department information about the arrest of Avaz Zeynall. The police office advised Turan agency to apply to the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, in vain.

In October 2011 Avaz Zeynalli was blackmailed, and convicted on the complaint of former MP MM Gyulyar Ahmedova. He was accused of taking a large-scale bribes by threats, of tax evasion and non-enforcement of court decisions. On December 30, 2014, he was pardoned by the president of the country.