Azerbaijan: journalist Vugar Mammadov sentenced to one month in prison
The repression of journalism continues in Azerbaijan. Journalist Vugar Mammadov has just been sentenced to one month in prison just for doing his job. The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) demand his immediate release.
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.
Mammadov is the seventh journalist to be 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.
