Azerbaijan, Sheki /corr. Trend E.Guliyev / The Commissioner on Human Rights of Azerbaijan, Elmira Suleymanova, said that Eynulla Fatullayev should answer for his act. According to her, everybody including journalists should respectfully approach the laws of the State.
Due to Fatullayev's arrest, the Journalist Rights Protection Committee intends to hold a demonstration to protest against pressure on freedom of expression and press in the Country.
The editor-in-chief of the Gundalik Azerbaijan and Realni Azerbaijan newspapers, Eynulla Fatullayev, was sentenced to eight years and six month in prison by the decision of court. A sentenced was read in the Heinous Court of Azerbaijan on 30 October 2007. Fatullayev was charged of contravening Articles 214.1 (terrorism), 283.2.2 (hostility) and 213.2.2 (tax evasion) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Fatullayev did not pay tax in amount of AZN 242,522.
The court sentence caused dissatisfaction of Human Rights Watch, Reporters without Border and Council of Europe. Sentence regarding Fatullayev was assessed as pressure on press.
According to Suleymanova, everybody is equal before law in Azerbaijan.