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 Reporters Without Borders calls for journalist Avaz Zeynalli’s immediate release, “Turan” news agency said.
“RwB” condemns yesterday’s decision by a Baku appeal court to hold him for at least three months pending trial. The editor of the daily Khural, he was arrested a week ago as a result of a complaint by a ruling party parliamentarian accusing him of attempted extortion. Separate libel suits have forced the newspaper to stop operating.

“The authorities are using the most diverse pretexts to put halt Khural’s activities and to punish Avaz Zeynalli for his scathing criticism of the president,” Reporters Without Borders said. “There is absolutely no reason why the investigation into the extortion claim requires his detention. This decision has all the hallmarks of a double punishment. The persecution must stop at once.”