(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is “staggered by the extraordinary harshness” of a five-year prison sentence handed down by a Baku court against Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of the country’s leading opposition daily, “Yeni Musavat”. Arifoglu, who is also vice president of the opposition party Musavat, was convicted for “disturbing public order” and “refusal to comply”. He has […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is “staggered by the extraordinary harshness” of a five-year prison sentence handed down by a Baku court against Rauf Arifoglu, editor-in-chief of the country’s leading opposition daily, “Yeni Musavat”.
Arifoglu, who is also vice president of the opposition party Musavat, was convicted for “disturbing public order” and “refusal to comply”. He has been held in custody since 27 October 2003.
“The government of Ilham Aliev promised a fair and open trial, and that has not been the case,” RSF said.
A number of human rights organisations, as well as the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly, have called for Arifoglu’s release.
“It is now clear that the Azerbaijan authorities are not respecting their international commitments. Unless this sentence is overturned on appeal, the country’s image will be seriously damaged,” RSF said.
The trial of Arifoglu, along with that of six other opposition leaders, opened on 7 May 2004. He was accused of organising rioting that shook the country after contested presidential elections on 15 October 2003 and charged with “disturbing public order” and “refusal to comply”. He faced a jail sentence of up to seven years.
Arifoglu’s lawyer, Samed Panahov, condemned irregularities in the trial and lack of evidence against his client. He said that the journalist’s state of health had deteriorated in prison, especially after his 10-day hunger strike. Arifoglu suffers from a stomach ulcer.
Since October 2003, RSF and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) had been calling for Arifoglu’s release on bail while he awaited the outcome of his trial. Instead, the Prosecutor General’s Office extended Arifoglu’s period in custody several times.
President Aliyev pardoned 160 prisoners on 29 December, of whom one third were political detainees. The European Union (EU) presidency hailed this gesture but nevertheless expressed concern for those arrested following the 15 and 16 October disturbances. The EU called for the detainees to be quickly and fairly tried or released.
At its autumn 2004 session, the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly passed a resolution calling for the release or amnesty of the seven opposition leaders and 33 other persons charged in connection with the events of October 2003.
