Yesterday, 17 September, in the Azizbayov District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Rashad Hasanov, a hearing was held on “Azadlig” Newspaper Editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid’s lawsuit to substitute his prison term with lighter punishment. The Institute for reporters’ Freedom and Safety was told this by Zahid’s lawyer Elchin Sadigov.
“Taking into consideration Zahid’s exemplary behavior, his family and other mitigating circumstances, we asked the court to supercede Zahid’s remaining prison term with corrective labor,” said Sadigov. “However, our demand was rejected and the court stated that Ganimat Zahid did not join the volleyball competition in prison in June and received a warning for it. In response to this, Ganimat said that he was not able to play volleyball because of problems in his health, but the lawsuit was not fulfilled. We’ll file an appeal against this decision.”
Ganimat Zahid was convicted under articles 127.2.3 (hooliganism with intentional infliction of minor bodily harm) and 221 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code and imprisoned for four years.
Ganimat Zahid was convicted under articles 127.2.3 (hooliganism with intentional infliction of minor bodily harm) and 221 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code and imprisoned for four years.