Director of an internet TV channel in Azerbaijan sentenced to 6 years in prison

Aziz Orujov, the executive director of the internet-based  TV ‘Channel-13’ has been sentenced to six years imprisonment. The verdict was delivered on 15 December in the Baku Court on Grave Crimes.

Orujoy was accused of conducting illegal business and abuse of power. The charges were based on the fact that Channel-13 receives funding from abroad, but it did not register its grants with the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Center for the Protection of Political Prisoners has included his name on a list of those persecuted for political reasons.

Orujov’s lawyer, Javad Javadov, said the verdict has no grounds, calling it ‘absurd’. He asked the court to acquit Orujov stating: “Aziz Orujov did not commit the acts for which he has been incriminated. He was tried for financial activities of the Caucasus Center for Media Research. But he was never a leader or official there nor did he sign any contracts. The center was led by his brother, Anar Orujov, who has been living in Germany since 2014.”

The defense is going to file an appeal.