Azerbaijan: arrested journalists go to law against Ministry of Justice

Rovshan Kebirli, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Mucaliphate," and journalist Yashar Agazade, who are now in prison, filed a complaint to the Yasamal District Court against the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan on poor conditions of their custody, the IA (Information Agency) APA informs.

The Agency was told at the Institute of Media Rights that the inmates complain against violations of their legitimate rights. According to the convicted journalists, for one day they were kept at short rations, without informing their advocate and relatives about the place of their custody.

Now, the journalists are kept in a cell housing 30 prisoners and 24 beds, therefore, the inmates have to sleep in turn. The room is never ventilated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has already informed that the two journalists were sued by Parliament Deputy Dzhalal Aliev, uncle of the incumbent President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev, after publication of the article on February 23 and on March 3 this year entitled: "AMAY Company - Aliev Family Brand."

The trial on Dzhalal Aliev's claim against the "Mucaliphate" newspaper was held this May. Rovshan Kebirli and Yashar Agazade rejected their guilt but were condemned under Article 147 of the Criminal Code ("insult") and arrested.