Mustafa Hajibeyli Sentenced to 5.5 Years of Probation

Baku / 21.02.19 / Turan: The Baku Court of Grave Crimes today read out the verdict to the chief editor of bastainfo.com, Mustafa Hajibeiliyu. The Court found him guilty under articles 309 (abuse of office), 313 (forgery) and 281 (appeals against the state) of the Criminal Code.

At the same time, taking into account the participation of Hajibeyli in the Karabakh war and his being in the care of minor children, the court applied article 70 of the Criminal Code on conditional punishment. As a result, the court sentenced the journalist to 5.5 years" imprisonment with a 2-year probation period. This means that if during 2 years Hajibeyli does not commit "new crimes", then the term of punishment will be considered fully served.

Before the announcement of the verdict, the journalist made a closing statement. He called the criminal case illegal and unreasonable.

Hajibeyli called it absurd the representation of him as an official and his accusation of official misconduct.

"I have not only a position, but even a workplace. The Constitutional Court, at the request of the prosecutor's office, determined the list of officials, and the journalists were not included there," said Hajibeyli.

He asked to acquit him and punish the guilty people who doomed him to 7 months of jail and misery.

Hajibeyli noted that he will always remain a fighter for freedom of speech.

The defense intends to appeal the verdict.

* On July 9, 2018, the Prosecutor General"s Office opened a criminal case on the dissemination to the Internet of "false information" and "illegal appeals" in connection with the attempt on the head of Ganja Elmar Veliyev and the energy blackout in Mingachevir, when almost all of Azerbaijan was left without power supply.

After that, the prosecutor's office appealed to the Ministry of Communications to block the sites Bastainfo.com, Criminalaz.com, Topxeber.az and Fia.az.

At first, Hajibeyli passed as a witness. However, on November 30, he was transferred to the status of the accused. In particular, he was charged under the Criminal Code: 281.2 (appeals against the state), 309.2 (abuse of office) and 313 (official forgery).

Regarding the editor, a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a program under police supervision. He denied all the charges. -21C--