Yesterday, 27 May, in the Azizbayov District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Fatime Miriyeva, a hearing was held on the lawsuit asking to free imprisoned “Bizim Yol” Newspaper correspondent Mushfig Huseynov from the rest of his sentence due to his health problems.
The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety was told this by Huseynov’s lawyer Isakhan Ashurov. The court rejected Huseynov’s lawsuit, said Ashurov.
“According to article 78 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic and Article 167 of the Execution of Punishments Code, the court could have adopted a decision to free Mushfig Huseynov,” said Ashurov. “However, the judge issued an unfair decision.”
Mushfig Huseynov was convicted under Article 311.1 (receiving of a bribe) of the Criminal Code and on 21 January 2008 was sentenced by Grave Crimes Court Judge Jamal Ramazanov to 6 years of imprisonment, followed by 2 year ban on his writing activity. However, this sentence was reduced to 5 years through a decision adopted by Appellate Court Judge Sahibkhan Mirzayev on 4 April 2008.