An opposition newspaper journalist is arrested in Azerbaijan for transportation of drugs

Sakit Zakhidov, journalist of the "Azadlyg" opposition newspaper, was detained on June 23 night and brought to the Azeri MIA Department on Fighting Drug Business. 10 gram of heroin was found in his pocket. A court hearing is going to be held today to issue a sanction for his arrest. The "Azadlyg" newspaper editor and the detainee's colleagues are convinced that the detention of Sakit Zakhidov has been instigated and is politically motivated. According to them, the accusation of drug abuse is a provocation of the authorities in order to slander and put behind the bars yet another opposition journalist.

Notably, Sakit Zakhidov is widely known for his satirical pamphlets on the authorities. For a long time he had been laughing at state functionaries, deputies and religious figures in the newspaper. The Council of editors and a number of human rights activists have condemned the journalist's arrest. Their common opinion is that the arrest has been politically instigated. They think that Sakit Zakhidov is yet another victim in the recent chain of violent acts against journalists.

Meanwhile, the MIA press-service has officially confirmed that officers of the MIA Department on Fighting Drug Business yesterday detained Sakit Zakhidov, journalist of the "Azadlyg" newspaper.

He was detained on the basis of field information. During the search of the detainee, some drug was found on him. Criminal investigation was initiated under the appropriate article of the criminal Code, runs the Azeri MIA press-service report. Note that the charge entails 3 to 7 years of prison.