Nazim Guliyev, who was initially jailed after being sued for defamation, has been sentenced to additional time based on a series of criminal charges.
(IRFS/IFEX) – On 15 January 2010, the Grave Crimes Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Azer Orujov, issued a verdict against “Ideal” newspaper founder Nazim Guliyev.
According to the verdict, Guliyev was found guilty of all the charges laid against him. He was sentenced to 13 years and three months in prison.
Guliyev was convicted on the basis of a lawsuit brought forth under Article 148 (insult) of the Criminal Code by Tanzila Rustamkhanli, the Azeri-Turk Women’s Union chairperson, and Sabira Mahmudova. He was initially sentenced to six months in prison on 20 May 2009. Later, Guliyev was accused by the anti-corruption department of the Chief Prosecutor’s Office under Criminal Code Articles 182.2.2 (to demand using threats), 182.2.3 (when the demand using threats is issued via violent means), 182.3.2 (relating to property appropriation), 221.1(hooliganism) and 234.1 (to illegally prepare, produce, obtain, keep, deliver, send and/or sell narcotics, psychotropic substances or their precursors).
“Ideal” newspaper ceased publishing after Guliyev’s arrest. The newspaper had been in circulation since 1998, although with several breaks in its regular publication, primarily due to Guliyev being arrested on more than one occasion.
