On 18 March the Nasimi District Court considered the petition filed by the investigative agency asking for the extension of pretrial detention of Yeni Musavat newspaper journalist Tofig Yagublu, journalist’s lawyer Akif Alizadeh reported to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS). According to the lawyer, the court granted the petition and extended the detention term of Tofig Yagublu by two months.
Background: Tofig Yagublu was arrested on February 4th 2013, for allegedly attempting to undermine the socio-political stability in Ismayilli region by calling on local people to resist the police and block the roads,during his visit to the region on January 24. He was eventually sentenced to two months of pretrial detention by Nasimi District Court on charges of organizing public disorder (Article 233 of the Criminal Code) and resisting the representative of authorities or using violence against them (Article 315 of the Criminal Code). Yagublu’s appeal against the decision was denied by the Baku Appeals Court on February 8.