Azerbaijan, Baku, 11 March / Trend corr. I.Alizadeh / The attorneys of Ganimat Zahid, the detained chief editor of the Azadlig newspaper, are to appeal against the decision by the Yasamal District Court. "We will make an appeal as soon as we receive a copy of the verdict and will point out all the violations which were made in Court," Rashid Hajili, Zahid's attorney said.
Zahid's arrest was due to an incident which took place between Zahid and Vusal Hasanov in front of the Azerbaijan newspaper on 7 November. On the evening of 11 November, Zahid was called to Yasamal District Court in Baku and detained as a suspect. He faces hooliganism and assault charges. Zahid is currently being held in a preliminary detention cell. On 12 November, Yasamal District Court sentenced him to a two-month prison sentence.
Attorneys and international journalist organizations have demanded for the immediate release of Zahid. "The appeal envisages that the Court did not investigate the facts, which proves that the incident was instigated and planned. Furthermore, the Court were unable to prove that Zahid assaulted Hasanov," the attorney added.
A further violation by the Court was that Zahid was sentenced without the presence of his attorneys.
Zahid will remain in Bayil prison until the sentence is re-considered.
The State Prosecutor stated that Zahid's case was proved.