Vienna, 01/08/2017
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after it was revealed that a journalist in Azerbaijan was sentenced to three years and three months of imprisonment after having spent almost a year incarcerated since his arrest in August 2016.
Faig Amirli, director of Azadliq newspaper, was sentenced on charges of allegedly inciting religious hatred, as well as tax evasion. Aside from his jail term, Amirli was ordered to pay a penalty of 39,050 AZN (approximately 20,000 EUR).
Amirli was sentenced by a court in Baku on 24 July, despite indications that during the investigation against him and the subsequent trial the prosecution could not actually prove any of the allegations against him
Amirli was sentenced by a court in Baku on 24 July, despite indications that during the investigation against him and the subsequent trial the prosecution could not actually prove any of the allegations against him.
SEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.