Marriage of imprisoned journalist and activist disrupted in Azerbaijan

The wedding ceremony of the jailed journalist Seimur Khazi and Nigyar Yagublu, an activist of the "Musavat" Party, did not take place after they were told that the travel wedding services are banned in Azerbaijan. The disruption of the ceremony has political character, Ms Yagublu is sure.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January 2015 Seimur Khazi, a columnist of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) newspaper and a member of the oppositional National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of a fight with some earlier unknown man. Khazi completely denied his guilt. Nigyar Yagublu is a daughter of Tofig Yagublu, a deputy chairman of the oppositional "Musavat" Party, who was sentenced in March 2014 to five years on charges of organizing mass riots in the city of Ismayilli.

The wedding ceremony of Khazi and Yagublu was scheduled for today in Colony No. 17. The marriage was to be official registered by an official from the state service named ASAN.

However, at the appointed time the ASAN official failed to appear in the colony, Elman Fattakh, a deputy chairman of the "Musavat", told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"He explained that since August 1, the order of the Minister of Justice suspended the travel marriages," Mr Fattakh said.

Nigyar Yagublu has confirmed this information to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. She said that the centre of the ASAN service has issued a document to her, according to which "the travel marriage services are no longer provided; and the marriage in Colony No. 17 is impossible."

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.