Sources: turan.az, social media
Azerbaijani authorities are persecuting the relatives of Ganimat Zahidov, the editor of the newspaper Azadlig and head of online program Azerbaycan Saati,
turan.az
reports.Zahidov lives in political exile in France, while his relatives still reside in Azerbaijan.
On July 18, 2015, the Baku police arrested Ganimat’s nephew Tural Zahidov. On the same day, the Baku court sentenced Tural to 30 days in jail on charges of disobeying the police, the editor wrote on his
Facebook
page. Turan agency contacted the duty police of the Shamakhi region, who confirmed that Tural Zahidov had been arrested for violating Article 310 of Code of Administrative Offences (willful failure to comply with the legitimate demands of the police).
Zahidov’s cousin Rovshan was also arrested and sentenced to 25 days in administrative detention.
Ganimat also stated that on July 20, the police arrived at village Meysari, where his old mother lives, and tried to detaing his brother Rufat and nephew Afghan. Police officers inquired who came to see the journalist’s mother in the days of Ramadan.
Ganimat believes that his family has been persecuted because he continued his unabashed criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities in both articles and television appearances. “Not being able to get to me, they’re trying to blackmail me, arresting my relatives,” Zahidov wrote.
On March 7, 2008, Zahidov was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of causing bodily harm and disorderly conduct. On March 17, 2010, the journalist was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev.
