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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF TALYSH NEWSPAPER IN AZERBAIJAN IS SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR TREASON
20:14 27/09/2013 " LAW
Today court in Azerbaijan pronounced a sentence against Hilal Mamedov,
the editor of the "Tolyshi sado" newspaper, who is also known
as publisher of the video, "Who are you? Common, goodbye." He was
accused of treason, inciting ethnic hatred and drug trafficking. The
court found Mamedov guilty on all charges and sentenced to 5 years'
imprisonment in a strict regime colony, the Azerbaijani news agency
"Turan" reports.
Before the sentence, Hilal Mamedov pronounced his last words and called
on the court to issue a fair verdict of acquittal. He expressed his
gratitude to all those who supported him since his arrest which took
place more than a year ago, and had had problems because of him.
Mammadov expressed his special thanks to his lawyers. Regarding
the charges, Mamedov called the criminal case issued against him a
"shameful stain not only on the law enforcement system in Azerbaijan
but also on the image of the country."
"Many representatives of Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of National
Security, Ministry of Justice, Prison system recognized this in formal
and informal talks. But could do nothing," said Mamedov.
He noted that the court has two options now: to make a fair verdict of
acquittal, or a justice miscarriage. "Even in this case, I will not
lose courage and I call on those who supported me to do the same,"
said Mamedov.
He noted that he got imprisoned because of his struggle for a
democratic state and is intended to continue this path.
Later the judge read the verdict. The agency notes that when the
judge read the verdict, the audience began cursing the court. Hilal
Mamedov, addressed the audience and said that it can only the Lord
may condemn him. In addition, he specifically turned to the reporters
and said he was not intended to ask for a pardon. Mammadov's lawyers
said the verdict was unjust, unreasonable and that they are going to
file an appeal.
"Turan" notes that today's court session was observed by the
representatives of the EU, OSCE as well as representatives of the US,
Germany, France, Norway, embassy etc.
Hilal Mamedov, editor in chief of the only Talysh newspaper "Tolyshi
sado" in Azerbaijan, was arrested by the Azerbaijani police on June
21, 2012. He was charged in drug possession; later on the Azerbaijani
MNS has accused him of treason and espionage. Among other things, Mr.
Mamedov is known by the popular online video, "Who are you? Common,
goodbye!" In summer 2012 three protests were held in front of the
Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow demanding to stop the ethnocide and to
release Hilal Mamedov.
Human rights organizations, such as the "Reporters without Borders",
protested the arrest of Mammadov and demanded his release. The report
of the "Reporters without Borders" says that Hilal Mamedov kept in
squalid conditions since his arrest in June of this year on the basis
of trumped-up charges. This case, as the organization notes is very
similar to the case of Novruzali Mammadov, the predecessor of Hilal
Mamedov, who was the editor of "Tolyshi sado."
The previous editor of "Tolyshi sado", Professor Novruzali Mamedov,
was arrested by the Azerbaijani special services in 2008. He was also
accused of espionage, and died in Azerbaijani prison in the summer
of 2009, because of being refused in medical care, emphasize the
"Reporters without Borders". Two sons of Mammadov, who were under
pressure of the Azerbaijani authorities also died; one of them had
a car accident, and the second was beaten every time as he took a
parcel to his father.
The Talysh are an indigenous people of that region, a settlement area
which covers the southern and northern regions of Azerbaijan province
of Iran. The Talysh in Azerbaijan are subjected to harassment on ethnic
grounds. According to official data their number in Azerbaijan reaches
to 112 thousands, but the Talysh believe that the official data are
manyfold underestimated.
Source: Panorama.am
20:14 27/09/2013 " LAW
Today court in Azerbaijan pronounced a sentence against Hilal Mamedov,
the editor of the "Tolyshi sado" newspaper, who is also known
as publisher of the video, "Who are you? Common, goodbye." He was
accused of treason, inciting ethnic hatred and drug trafficking. The
court found Mamedov guilty on all charges and sentenced to 5 years'
imprisonment in a strict regime colony, the Azerbaijani news agency
"Turan" reports.
Before the sentence, Hilal Mamedov pronounced his last words and called
on the court to issue a fair verdict of acquittal. He expressed his
gratitude to all those who supported him since his arrest which took
place more than a year ago, and had had problems because of him.
Mammadov expressed his special thanks to his lawyers. Regarding
the charges, Mamedov called the criminal case issued against him a
"shameful stain not only on the law enforcement system in Azerbaijan
but also on the image of the country."
"Many representatives of Prosecutor's Office, Ministry of National
Security, Ministry of Justice, Prison system recognized this in formal
and informal talks. But could do nothing," said Mamedov.
He noted that the court has two options now: to make a fair verdict of
acquittal, or a justice miscarriage. "Even in this case, I will not
lose courage and I call on those who supported me to do the same,"
said Mamedov.
He noted that he got imprisoned because of his struggle for a
democratic state and is intended to continue this path.
Later the judge read the verdict. The agency notes that when the
judge read the verdict, the audience began cursing the court. Hilal
Mamedov, addressed the audience and said that it can only the Lord
may condemn him. In addition, he specifically turned to the reporters
and said he was not intended to ask for a pardon. Mammadov's lawyers
said the verdict was unjust, unreasonable and that they are going to
file an appeal.
"Turan" notes that today's court session was observed by the
representatives of the EU, OSCE as well as representatives of the US,
Germany, France, Norway, embassy etc.
Hilal Mamedov, editor in chief of the only Talysh newspaper "Tolyshi
sado" in Azerbaijan, was arrested by the Azerbaijani police on June
21, 2012. He was charged in drug possession; later on the Azerbaijani
MNS has accused him of treason and espionage. Among other things, Mr.
Mamedov is known by the popular online video, "Who are you? Common,
goodbye!" In summer 2012 three protests were held in front of the
Azerbaijani Embassy in Moscow demanding to stop the ethnocide and to
release Hilal Mamedov.
Human rights organizations, such as the "Reporters without Borders",
protested the arrest of Mammadov and demanded his release. The report
of the "Reporters without Borders" says that Hilal Mamedov kept in
squalid conditions since his arrest in June of this year on the basis
of trumped-up charges. This case, as the organization notes is very
similar to the case of Novruzali Mammadov, the predecessor of Hilal
Mamedov, who was the editor of "Tolyshi sado."
The previous editor of "Tolyshi sado", Professor Novruzali Mamedov,
was arrested by the Azerbaijani special services in 2008. He was also
accused of espionage, and died in Azerbaijani prison in the summer
of 2009, because of being refused in medical care, emphasize the
"Reporters without Borders". Two sons of Mammadov, who were under
pressure of the Azerbaijani authorities also died; one of them had
a car accident, and the second was beaten every time as he took a
parcel to his father.
The Talysh are an indigenous people of that region, a settlement area
which covers the southern and northern regions of Azerbaijan province
of Iran. The Talysh in Azerbaijan are subjected to harassment on ethnic
grounds. According to official data their number in Azerbaijan reaches
to 112 thousands, but the Talysh believe that the official data are
manyfold underestimated.
Source: Panorama.am