On October 27, the Supreme Court heard Parviz Hashimli’s cassation appeal in his absence and upheld the appellate court’s decision.
Background: Bizim Yol newspaper journalist Parviz Hashimli was detained on September 17, 2013, by employees of the Ministry of National Security (MNS). The Main Investigation Department of MNS launched a case against him under three articles of the Criminal Code: 206.3.2 (smuggling of firearms on preliminary arrangement by an organized group), 228.2.1 (illegal purchase, transfer, selling, storage, transportation and carrying of firearms, their accessories, supplies and explosives by an organized group) and 228.2.2 (the same acts committed repeatedly). The journalist was sentenced to 8 years in prison on May 14 2014.