A journalist is being tried in absentia in Azerbaijan on charges of anti-state incitement

The trial of Ganimat Zahid, editor-in-chief of the Azadliq (Freedom) newspaper, who resides in France, has begun in Baku. The journalist denies the charges of anti-state incitement, viewing the criminal case as persecution for his professional activities.

In 2011, Ganimat Zahid reported threats against his family and took them out of the country, receiving political asylum in France. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) previously awarded the editor €8,500 in compensation for the destruction of a manuscript during the investigation. The ECHR also found a violation of his right to freedom of expression in connection with a defamation lawsuit, for which an Azerbaijani court ordered the journalist to pay compensation.

This trial is taking place against a case pending in Baku against political émigré bloggers living abroad. Among them are Tural Sadygly, Elshad Mamedov, Gurban Mamedov, Suleyman Suleymanly, as well as Ordukhan Teymurkhan, Orkhan Agayev, and Rafael Piriyev. The trial in this combined case began on November 22.

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