Federal Lezghi
National and Cultural Autonomy

Azeri Journalist Charged With Drugs, Weapon Possession

BAKU -- A journalist for an independent newspaper in Azerbaijan has been arrested and charged with illegal weapon and drugs possession.

 

Parviz Hasimli was arrested on September 17 after police searched his house in Baku.

 

Hasimli's brother, Zamin Hasimli, told RFE/RL the next day that police did not allow journalists who had come to Hasimli's house after hearing about the search to take photographs.

 

Hasimli works for the independent "Bizim Yol" (Our Path) newspaper.

 

Earlier this month, New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Azerbaijani authorities of trying to silence dissent ahead of the October 9 presidential election.

 

Last month, Amnesty International also criticized the Azerbaijani government for criminal cases launched against opposition activists, saying authorities in Azerbaijan have a record of pressing false charges to silence dissent.

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Radio Liberty

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