Today, 30 March, imprisoned “Azadlig” Newspaper satiric/journalist Sakit Zahidov’s lawyer Isakhan Ashurov visited Zahidov in Prison #10. Ashurov told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety that Sakit’s condition is normal.
According to I. Ashurov, Sakit Zahidov is going to sue the chief of Prison #10 and will introduce an appeal to court tomorrow, during the first part of the day. “In our lawsuit we demand that the actions of the chief of Prison #10 be considered unfounded,” said Ashurov. “Sakit should have been released on 18 March, but he has not been freed yet.”
IRFS contacted Deputy Chief of the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Services Huseyn Alikhanov regarding this issue. He said that the journalist should be released according to the rules of amnesty. “His appeal does not have any significance. He will be freed when it is the right moment according to the demands of the amnesty.”
We tried to contact Prison #10, but no one answered our phone calls.
S. Zahidov called his wife Rena Zahidova today. IRFS was told this by Zahidova. There’s no news regarding amnesty. “Neither Sakit nor I believe that he will be freed. We are waiting for 23 June,” said R.Zahidova.
Sakit Zahidov’s name was included in the amnesty act that was adopted by Milli Mejlis on 17 March.
IRFS contacted Deputy Chief of the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Services Huseyn Alikhanov regarding this issue. He said that the journalist should be released according to the rules of amnesty. “His appeal does not have any significance. He will be freed when it is the right moment according to the demands of the amnesty.”
We tried to contact Prison #10, but no one answered our phone calls.
S. Zahidov called his wife Rena Zahidova today. IRFS was told this by Zahidova. There’s no news regarding amnesty. “Neither Sakit nor I believe that he will be freed. We are waiting for 23 June,” said R.Zahidova.
Sakit Zahidov’s name was included in the amnesty act that was adopted by Milli Mejlis on 17 March.