Journalist Elchin Hassanzadeh could be arrested

There is a threat of the arrest of the human rights defender and journalist Elchin Hassanzadeh (Hasanov). For more than two months  he cannot execute the sentence of the court on correctional works with 20% of the net earnings to the state. The reason is the absence of work.

On  1 June  the Nizami District Court of Baku sentenced Hassanzadeh to a year of corrective works. The lawsuit  was related to the incident in February 2015, when the journalist was attacked by the former head of the agency "Asiya" Jafar Jafarov.

According to the court, Hassanzadeh had to conclude an electronic contract with the employer, to submit an identification code of the taxpayer and the tax receipt. However, under these circumstances,  he  cannot find a job  for two months, because many businesses do not want to register employees.

"On the other hand, who will give a job to a person involved in political activity," said Hassanzadeh.

Today he received a notice from the bailiffs, that if at the expiration of three months from the date of sentence Hassanzadeh does not submit a certificate of employment and deduction of 20% of the salary, the journalist would be arrested.

Hassanzadeh has been registered at the Employment Center of Sumgayit city. Today he received an offer from this center to work as a janitor with a salary of 125 manat, of which 25 he will have to pay on account of execution of the judgment. "This is a very small salary, which is impossible to live. Secondly, this is done on purpose to insult me," said Hassanzadeh.

The Employment Center sent to the   department for execution court decisions a letter on Hasanzadeh’s refusal work. A few days later he can be arrested for periods ranging from 4 months to a year. The journalist asks the public's help in finding job on the conditions of official registration and taxes.

Hassanzadeh does not work for several years  in the newspaper "Yukselish Namine"; and  the website has no income. Hasanov is also a member of the Supreme Assembly of the party of the Popular Front of Azerbaijan.—06B--