Rufat Zahidov and Rovshan Zahidov, the jailed nephew and cousin of Azadliq newspaper’s France-based chief editor Ganimat Zahid, have appealed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and to the mass media declaring that they have disowned their relative Ganimat Zahid.
Rovshan Zahidov asked that the note about his close kinship to Ganimat Zahid be deleted from his personal data in his case file, where Ganimat Zahid is indicated as his nephew. “This person is a disgrace to me and my close relatives. I also ask the mass media to remove my name and surname from the fake list of “prisoners of conscience” compiled by Ganimat Zahid and his party comrades. I and my relatives commend and support Mr. President Ilham Aliyev’s internal and foreign policy, and will continue to do so. We have always spoken and will speak our words of truth against the people like Ganimat Zahid, who do not love our state,” Rovshan Zahidov said.
Ganimat Zahid’s jailed nephew Rufat Zahidov has also made it public that he has disowned his uncle Ganimat Zahid. “I also ask you to stop Ganimat Zahid and his opposition party comrades from using me as a pawn. Help remove my name from the fictitious list of prisoners of conscience. In addition to the above, I want to also let the media know that not only me, but my family members also are supporting and will support the policy of Mr. President Ilham Aliyev and the development in our republic. I have always raised my voice of truth against the people like Ganimat Zahid who are discrediting our republic, and have always championed our state policy, and will continue to do so together with my family members. My father Zahidov Farasat Salim oglu also agrees with this opinion,” Rufat Zahidov said.
Rovshan and Rufat Zahidov noted that they had not been subjected to any form of pressure while writing this appeal.
Rufat and Rovshan Zahidov were arrested in July 2015, and were charged under Articles 234.4.1 (illegal manufacturing, processing, purchase, storage, transfer, transportation or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances – on preliminary arrangement by a group of persons) and 234.4.3 (- in large amount) of the Criminal Code. On 28 June 2016, Baku Grave Crimes Court convicted both men and sentenced each of them to 6 years in jail.
Their case is currently being heard by Sumgayit Appeal Court. The next hearing will be held on November 11.