Journalist arrested in Azerbaijan

In Baku, after searches, the director of the online media Abzas Meda, Ulvi Hasanli, was detained. He was accused of smuggling foreign currency.

Security forces allegedly found 40 thousand euros in Hasanli’s office. According to the arrested person, the money does not belong to him.

Ulvi Hasanli said that on the way to the airport he was stopped by the police and taken to the police station. There he was subjected to physical and psychological pressure.

Since the end of 2010, the journalist has been repeatedly harassed by the authorities. He was one of those who complained about the law obliging all media outlets in Azerbaijan to register with the state register under threat of closure.

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