In Azerbaijan, prosecutor requests year of restriction of freedom for opposition journalist

Tezekhan Miralamli rejected the charge of disorderly conduct. He associates the public prosecutor's request to restrict his freedom for a year with the attempt of prosecutors to deprive him of the opportunity to be engaged in journalistic activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Tezekhan Miralamli, a correspondent of the newspaper "Azadlig" and a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was charged with disorderly conduct. The opposition journalist stated that the case against him was instituted under a complaint filed by Ata Abdullaev, a video blogger.

The public prosecutor requested the court to sentence the journalist to one year of imprisonment.

"Such a request voiced by the public prosecutor is aimed at restricting my journalistic activities. I will be obliged to wear an electronic bracelet and not to attend any social events," Tezekhan Miralamli said.

Emin Guseinov, the director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), believes that the punishment requested by the public prosecutor will seriously restrict the activities of Tezekhan Miralamli.

"Tezekhan Miralamli, a reporter of the newspaper 'Azadlig', is a very active and brave journalist. He prepares reports on conflicts and protest actions. Restriction of freedom will prevent him from doing that," Emin Guseinov explained.

The director of the IFRS has also added that he did not see any breach of law on the video record of the incident with involvement of Tezekhan Miralamli. Emin Guseinov notes that it was "an ordinary verbal skirmish."