Baku Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Vagif Mursagulov, considered Azadliq newspaper distribution director Faig Amirli’s appeal. Lawyers Agil Layijov and Fakhraddin Mammadov solicited for Amirli’s acquittal. The public prosecutor requested that Sabail district court’s original decision be upheld. Upon return from the deliberation room, the jury announced the decision to conditionally release Amirli.
Background: Sabail district court sentenced Faig Amirli to 3.3 years in jail on 24 July.
Amirli was detained on 20 August 2016. He is charged under Articles 213.1 (tax evasion, in a large amount) and 283.2.2 (incitement to national, ethnic, social and religious hated and hostility through abuse of office). According to official reports, Fetullah Gulen books were found in his vehicle.