The editor of the website “Realliq.info” meets with the Ombudsman

Baku/08.01.20/Turan: Today the editor of the website “Realliq.info” Ikram Rahimov, who was released on December 23 last year, met with the Ombudswoman Sabina Aliyeva. “I decided to express my gratitude for the attention of the ombudsman's office to my case during my detention,” Rahimov told Turan after meeting with Aliyeva.

During the conversation, the editor informed the Ombudswoman about the motives and reasons for his arrest and imprisonment, as well as about the situation in detention centers.

“I told the Ombudswoman that my arrest was ordered by Ali Hasanov, the former assistant to the President of Azerbaijan on public and political issues, who pursued the goal of creating his own media empire and eliminated everyone who was against his policy,” Rahimov said.

He also noted that he would fight for the restoration of justice and proof of his innocence.

According to Rahimov, Sabina Aliyeva assured that the Ombudsman's Office would keep in sight the further situation around the editor of Realliq.info.

Rahimov was arrested in October 2018 after the publication of an open letter criticizing Ali Hasanov, the then assistant to the head of state.

On June 12, 2018, he was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison. In protest, he went on a hunger strike, which ended on the 30th day - September 5.

On September 18, the Court of Appeal  applying Article 62 of the Criminal Code (the appointment of a lesser punishment prescribed by law), reduced the term of imprisonment to 3 years. A number of international journalistic organizations condemned conviction of Rahimov.-0-