Mehman Huseynov, the Azerbaijani photo journalist, whose imprisonment two years ago triggered widespread international condemnation, was released from jail on Saturday (2 March) after serving in full his two year prison sentence.
Huseynov was convicted of libel for saying he had been mistreated by police in January 2017.
Shortly after his release Huseynov visited the grave in Baku of Elmar Huseynov (no releation), an Azerbaijani journalist who was shot dead in 2005.
"I came here today to visit Elmar Huseynov's grave. I think there must be journalists who will continue doing what he did," he said. "And I have chosen this way for myself. I have chosen the hardest path in journalism and will continue doing this until the end."
Harlem Desir, the OSCE representative on freedom of the media, welcomed the news of Huseynov's release on Twitter.
Happy that blogger #MehmanHuseynov is free. Hope to meet him in Baku or Vienna. He shouldn't have been imprisoned in 1st place. I called for his release a number of times: https://t.co/Cr2aYZ1YJK
— OSCE media freedom (@OSCE_RFoM) March 2, 2019
related content:
The case of Mehman Husseynov puts Azerbaijan on the spot
source; commonspace.eu
photo: Mehman Huseynov before being imprisoned in 2017 (archive picture)
