Seymour Hazi: �The prison term hasn�t taken anything from me� (updated - video)

Baku / 08.29.19 / Turan: "My assessment of the charges against me five years ago and the decision of the court have not changed. It was an order from the authorities to silence me," the journalist Seymour Hazy released from prison early in the morning of August 29 told the journalists who met him.

The five-year prison sentence has not changed anything. All this time he spent "profitably", playing sports and reading a lot. "These five years could not steal anything from my life, on the contrary, they even added something useful," said Hazi.

The journalist believes that his arrest is an indicator of the government"s intolerance of criticism.

"The authorities showed that they not only do not tolerate criticism, but are very afraid of it," he added.

"Even my release scared them. Therefore, they released me at dawn so that my release would not turn into a solemn ceremony," he said. -0-

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2019 August 29 (Thursday) 08:57:27

Journalist Seymour Hazi at Large

Baku / 08/29/19 / Turan: Journalist Seymour Hazi was released from the jail on the morning of August 29 after the expiration of his five-year prison term. Information about his release on social networks was distributed by his relatives and friends.

The columnist for the Azadlig newspaper and host of the Azerbaijan Hour television program, Seymour Khazi, was arrested exactly five years ago. He was accused of hooliganism and sentenced to 5 years in prison. He denied the allegations and declared a provocation against him and linked the arrest to his professional activities.

The international human rights organization recognized him as a "prisoner of conscience". The European Court of Human Rights declared Hazi"s arrest unlawful and decided the journalist should be paid compensation in the amount of 13 thousand euros for non-pecuniary damage and another 1,500 euros for reimbursement of legal expenses. -05D06-