Relative of oppositional journalist sentenced in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, Emin Shagiev, a relative of Turkel Azerturk, a reporter of the opposition "TuranTV" TV Channel, was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment on the charge of drug trafficking. Turkel Azerturk has associated the prosecution of his relative with his opposition activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Emin Shagiev was arrested on November 17, 2017.

"Emin Shagiev worked for a security company. According to investigators, 5 grams of heroin were found at his place. He said that the drugs had been planted to him," said advocate Bakhruz Bairamov.

Turkel Azerturk believes that his relative is being prosecuted because of his journalistic activities abroad. "However, Emin was not involved in my work ... He never took part in any anti-government activities, and we did not communicate with him," Turkel Azerturk said.

Ogtai Gyulyalyev, the coordinator of the Centre for the Protection of Political Prisoners, believes that Emin Shagiev is being prosecuted for political reasons.

The Emin Shagiev's arrest is not the first case when relatives of journalists who live abroad are persecuted in Azerbaijan, notes Samir Kazymly, the head of the Alliance for the Protection of Political Freedoms.