14:14, 16 August 2007

Editor-in-chief of the "Hural" newspaper expects his arrest in Azerbaijan

Avez Zeinally, editor-in-chief of the "Hural" newspaper, published in Azerbaijan, could not exclude, in his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, that he might be arrested in the near future. As he said, the authorities have unleashed a real campaign against himself and his newspaper:

"The State Office of Public Prosecutor resumes the criminal case against me for publication of fragments from Adolph Hitler's book "Mein Kamрf." The criminal case was closed in 2005 for the absence of crime elements. Now, the "Amai" Company brings an action against the newspaper for a year-old article, and the Ministry of Social Welfare resorts to a frank blackmail."

Mr Zeinally is convinced that the campaign with the aim to close the newspaper and his forthcoming arrest have been staged by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Social Welfare.

"The 'Amai' Company claims for the indemnification in the sum of 1 million manats (1.010 million US dollars), and this sum is naturally unbearable for the newspaper. The authorities do everything to strangle our newspaper," Mr Zeinally has concluded.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent