Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr I. Alizade / The Prosecutor-General of Azerbaijan refused the appeal from Azerbaijani MPs for the release on probation of the arrested Ganimat Zahid, the editor-in-chief of Azerbaijani Azadliq newspaper. That was reported in a response letter from the First Deputy Prosecutor Rustam Usubov addressed to the Parliament, MP Panah Huseyn said to journalists.
Fourteen MPs applied to the Prosecutor General urging for the release of Zahid on probation.
On 11 November, the Yasamal District Court in Baku sentenced Zahid to a 2-month prison term for hooliganism and assault charges. "The case is being investigated and the decision to be taken is dependent upon the results of the investigation," Usubov said. If the accusations have been proved, Zahid may face up to a 3-year prison sentence.
International human rights organizations condemned Zahid's arrest as pressure on freedom of press. Zahid considers his arrest to be a provocation.
There are eight media representatives imprisoned in Azerbaijan charged with criminal defamation and other charges.