Azerbaijan: Journalist Vugar Mammadov sentenced to one month in prison

The repression of journalism continues in Azerbaijan. Journalist Vugar Mammadov was sentenced to one month in prison on 24 July for simply doing his job. The International and the European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) call on the authorities to immediately release him.

Credit: Hurriyyet newspaper.

On 24 July, the Narimanov district court, presided over by judge Vusal Gurbanov, sentenced Vugar Mammadov, editor-in-chief of the Hurriyyet newspaper, the Youtube channel Hurriyyet TV and the news portal Hurriyyet.az, to one month in prison. The sentence is based on Article 388.1.1.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

According to Hurriyyet, Mammadov was accused of broadcasting a critical interview about the Ministry of Defence with retired Colonel Enur Mammadov, who was also sentenced to one month in prison by the same court. Vugar Mammadov’s lawyer has announced that he will challenge the court’s decision, which he believes is based on false accusations.

At present, there are seven journalists imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The EFJ and IFJ are calling for their release and for an end to the current policy of police and judicial repression of journalism.

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

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