Third birthday of Avaz Zeynalli in custody

Chief Editor of "Khural" newspaper, Avaz Zeynalli,  spent his birthday on December 16  in jail, where he is  for a critical stance towards the authorities of Azerbaijan. He is 44 yearl old.  The ordered verdict  made last March 12 on his imprisonment to nine  years  did not break the spirit of this  man of principles, has withstood more than thirty lawsuits on  defamation initiated by officials at various levels, including the head of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev .

The main merit  of Zeynally, no one can doubt it, is the fact that he was able to open society such a phenomenon as Gular Akhmedova, a MP, a brilliant representative of the ruling party "Yeni Azerbaijan". Akhmedova became one of the main actors in a play about a slander  campaign against Zeynally  and his arrest.

She slandered him, but ultimately, all her efforts  and slander  against  Zeynally, turned against  Akhmedova herself; she has been imprisoned and charged with selling seats in the Azerbaijani parliament.

Zeinally still have  to  go a  difficult path imprisoned journalist. But friends believe that the way  will be short, and it will end  by changes in the Azerbaijani society. -0-