Azerbaijan Hands Eight-Year Prison Sentence to Rights Activist Rufat Safarov
Details and Context of the Sentencing
Background of the Case
BAKU, June 12 (Reuters) - A court in Azerbaijan sentenced a prominent rights activist to eight years in prison after convicting him of hooliganism and fraud in a case his lawyer said was politically motivated.
Profile of Rufat Safarov
The activist, Rufat Safarov, is a former prosecutor who runs the rights group Defense Line. He previously served three years for bribery before being pardoned by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in 2019.
Legal Response
His lawyer, Rovshana Rahimova, told Reuters that she disagreed with the verdict and would appeal.
International Reaction and Human Rights Concerns
Criticism from the West
Oil-producing Azerbaijan has drawn criticism from the West over its human rights record following a series of arrests of independent journalists and political activists in recent years.
Baku's Response
Baku rejects the criticism and says calls by Western diplomats to release detainees amount to interference in its judicial system.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Nailia Bagirova. Writing by Lucy Papachristou. Editing by Mark Potter)
