Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr K. Zarbaliyeva / The jailed chief editor of the Azerbaijani Azadliq newspaper Ganimat Zahid suspended his hunger-strike in the morning of 15 December. He launched the hunger-strike on 8 December as a protest against arrest of journalists including himself.
The journalist agreed to temporary suspend the action after he talked with the administration of the Investigation Cell 1 and his family, the PR Department in the Azerbaijani Penitentiary Service said to Trend on 15 December.
The health condition of Zahid is normal.
On 12 November, Yasamal District Court sentenced him to a two month prison term on hooliganism and assault charges.
The criminal case for Zahid is being considered at the Yasamal District Court in Baku presided over by judge Sudaba Mammadova. A preparatory hearing on the case will take place on 26 December.
Zahid was arrested after the incident which took place on 7 November in front of the Azerbaijan publishing house, where the editorial office of the Azadliq is located.
A quarrel among Zahid, Sevgilada Guliyeva and Vusal Hasanov turned into a fight. On the same day Hasanov applied to the Yasamal Police Office and took a medical check-up which revealed a craniocerebral injury.
In case the accusations for Zahid are proved, he may face a 3-year prison term.
International human rights organizations condemned Zahid's arrest and regard it as a pressure upon freedom of speech in Azerbaijan.
Zahis regards his arrest as a provocation. There are 9 journalists jailed for their journalistic activities in Azerbaijan, mostly for defamation and assault charge.