Today, 24 November, Ayanda Mursaliyeva visited her husband, imprisoned “Azadlig” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ganimat Zahid in Prison #17.
Mursaliyeva told the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety that G. Zahid is feeling well and does not have any complaints against prison conditions.
Mursaliyeva noted that Zahid continues to follow the press and reads “Azadlig” Newspaper both as a reader and the publication’s editor-in-chief. “’Azadlig’ Newspaper has been published without Zahid’s guidance for over a year now. Zahid is very content with the activity of the newspaper and does not have any objection to the newspaper staff,” said Mursaliyeva, adding that Ganimat continues to study German and English.
According to Mursaliyeva, Zahid is concerned about the appeal on his case sent to European Court of Human Rights. “I told him that a notice should be sent to us within 2 months about whether the case will be accepted for consideration or not,” she said.
On 11 November 2007 Ganimat Zahid was arrested on charges of hooliganism and intentional infliction of minor bodily harm. On 7 March 2008 he was sentenced to four years of imprisonment.