Hafiz Babaly said that no investigative action was taken
Representatives of the Ombudsman Office met with the journalist
Jailed investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly met with representatives of the Ombudsman.
The meeting took place on May 2. According to the information of Hafiz Babali’s relatives, he said at the meeting that his arrest was a political order and aimed at preventing journalistic activity for a long time.
He also added that no investigation has been carried out since his detention on December 13.
The journalist emphasized that according to the essence of the decision of the Constitutional Court on the interpretation of Articles 32, 33 and 34 of the Criminal Code, contrary to the accusation, he cannot be considered a member of a collusive group.
Hafiz Babaly also said that urgent medical intervention is necessary for serious health problems. He asked that this be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.
Representatives of the Office of the Ombudsman listened to what Hafiz Babali said and promised to investigate these issues.
Journalist Hafiz Babaly was detained on December 13. He was charged with “foreign currency smuggling”. According to the court’s decision, he was sentenced to three months of initial imprisonment.
Hafiz Babaly was involved in the “AbzasMedia” case. Human rights defenders recognized Hafiz Babali as a political prisoner.
Last year, on November 20, the director of “AbzasMedia” Ulvi Hasanli, his deputy Muhammad Kekalov, on November 21, the editor-in-chief of the website Sevinj Vagifgizi, on November 30, reporter Nargiz Absalamova, on December 13, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, on January 13 journalist Elnara Gasimova was detained.
They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling, when committed by a group of persons who colluded in advance), and preventive measures of arrest were chosen. If the court accepts the accusations of the prosecutor’s office during the investigation, journalists face up to 8 years in prison.
Journalists deny the accusations and link their arrests to corruption investigations published in AbzasMedia against government officials.
Starting from February 24, the prison terms of all journalists arrested in connection with the “AbzasMedia” case have been extended by another 3 months.
International organizations linked these decisions with the groundless conduct of the investigation and said that there is pressure on journalists.