Azerbaijan: Fear for safety/Fear of torture or ill-treatment/Legal Concern: Sakit Mirza Zakhidov (m), journalist

Index Number: EUR 55/003/2006
Date Published: 26 June 2006
Categories: Azerbaijan, Europe And Central Asia

Sakit Mirza Zakhidov, a well-known journalist and satirist for the opposition newspaper Azadlyq, was arrested on 23 June 2006 by Interior Ministry personnel belonging to its anti-narcotics department. A statement issued by the Ministry alleged that 10 grams of heroin had been found on Sakit Zakhidov's person and confiscated following his arrest. Sakit Zakhidov is now being held in pre-trial detention at the Nasimi regional police station in Baku city. If convicted, he could face between three and seven years in prison, where he would be at risk of torture and other ill-treatment.