The Supreme Court left Elchin Hasanzade in prison

Baku/13.07.21/Turan: Today the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan rejected the cassation appeal of blogger Elchin Hasanzadeh, and left unchanged the sentence of imprisonment of his freedom for 8 months on charges of defamation.

He himself was not taken to court. Hasanzadeh was represented in court by lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova. They asked to acquit the journalist, pointing out that he suffered for freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms.

Harassment of Hasanzadeh for investigative journalism will have a deterrent effect on other media representatives. In addition, the defense asked to take into account Hasanzadeh's health problems and the fact that he is the only breadwinner. Finally, and the fact that he has already served half of his sentence. Now the defense intends to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

On March 2 this year, the Sheki Court of Appeal sentenced bloggers and activists Elchin Hasanzade and Ibrahim Turkoy to 8 months in prison on charges of libel and insult.

The lawsuit as a private criminal charge was filed by the head of the city housing and maintenance department Shahriyar Mustafayev, demanding to bring Hasanov under the Article 147.1 (libel) and 148 (insult) of the Criminal Code. The reason for the lawsuit is critical publications about the official in social networks.

Earlier, the Mingachevir court sentenced both to a year of correctional labor, bloggers appealed against the sentence, but the appellate court changed the sentence to a real term of imprisonment.

Hasanzade was also involved in human rights activities, and in the past was the deputy editor of the “Yukselish Namine” newspaper published in Sumgayit. - 06B03-