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Sakit Zahidov, a satirist and poet who writes for the opposition daily "Azadliq," was arrested on June 23 for possession of 10 grams of heroin. Today he was found guilty of charges of illegal possession and use of drugs.

Zahidov's lawyer, Vugar Khasiyev, spoke to journalists outside the courtroom after the verdict was read. He called the decision "unjust," characterizing it as a political ruling aimed at punishing his client, whose brother is the editor in chief of "Azadliq."

"The court failed to present any proof of Zahidov's guilt, and instead the judge played the role of a notary, simply confirming the charges brought by the public prosecutor," Khasiyev said.

Curious Timing

Zahidov's colleagues note that his arrest came just three days after Ali Akhmedov, the executive secretary of Azerbaijan's ruling party, Yeni Azerbaycan, publicly called on authorities to take measures to silence the journalist.

During a June 20 discussion on media freedom, Akhmedov said: "No government official or member of parliament has avoided [Zahidov's] slanders. Someone should put an end to it."

Throughout his trial, Zahidov insisted that he never used drugs. He claimed the drugs he was charged with possessing were planted in his pocket by police prior to his arrest. Saying that the charges against him were false, he said that "I do not ask the court to make my sentence lighter. I just want it to pass an objective decision."

Zahidov was originally charged with possession of a large quantity of drugs with intent to sell. However, during the trial the prosecutor reduced the charge to possession for personal use.

The court did not examine Zahidov for medical evidence of drug use. Doctors called by the prosecution as witnesses confirmed that they had not examined Zahidov. When Zahidov's lawyer asked them how they concluded that he had used drugs, they testified that Zahidov's nervous appearance at the time of his arrest was proof.

International Spotlight

The case attracted international attention because of the nature of Zahidov's writing, which often satirized Azerbaijani officials and drew attention to corruption in the government.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) appealed to Azerbaijani authorities to guarantee Zahidov a free and fair trial.

CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon wrote in a letter to President Ilham Aliyev on October 2 that "we condemn this campaign of harassment of Azerbaijan's independent press and call on you to do everything within your power to stop it."

Elsa Vidal, the head of the Europe and former Soviet states desk of Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, denounced the verdict.

"We regard it as a political sentence because so far the accusations have failed in proving that Sakit Zahidov has been using or selling drugs," Vidal said. "Sakit Zahidov is renowned in Azerbaijan for his articles and poems, which are very critical toward President Ilham Aliyev. So we are sure that it is a political sentence and we protest firmly against it."

Today's ruling was observed by representatives of the U.S. and British embassies in Baku and the OSCE, all of whom declined comment on the case. The ruling came one day after EU External Affairs Commissioner Benito Ferrero-Waldner visited Baku to discuss a joint EU-Azerbaijan action plan pertaining to the European Neighborhood Policy, including adherence to international norms of democracy and human rights.

Growing Trend?

Zahidov's case is the fourth in a series of court actions brought against independent journalists in Azerbaijan. In his letter to President Aliyev, CPJ's Simon observes, "In a disturbing trend, several public officials have filed about a dozen politicized lawsuits against critical journalists in the last three months."

Two major independent dailies in Azerbaijan, with a combined circulation of 38,000, suspended operations on October 3 to protest the current climate in which the media is working.

"Realnyi Azerbaijan" and "Gundelik Azerbaijan" published front-page statements denouncing the "police regime," and saying they were suspending publication in response to pressure and death threats directed at their employees.

On September 26, Eynulla Fatullayev, founder of both newspapers, was convicted of criminal libel and insult and given a suspended sentence of two years in prison.

The case was brought by the Interior Ministry. Fatullayev was a close associate of Elmar Huseynov, the editor of the independent "Monitor" magazine, who was slain in March 2005.

(Ruzanna Zeynalova of RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service contributed to this report.)

Azerbaijan: Journalist's Prison Sentence Denounced As Political

By Kenan Aliyev

Sakit Zahidov in court on October 4 (Turan)
PRAGUE, October 4, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A Baku court today sentenced an Azerbaijani journalist to three years in prison on charges that critics described as politically motivated.

Azerbaijan: Journalist's Prison Sentence Denounced As Political

By Kenan Aliyev Sakit Zahidov in court on October 4 (Turan)PRAGUE, October 4, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A Baku court today sentenced an Azerbaijani journalist to three years in prison on charges that critics described as politically motivated.

By Kenan Aliyev

Sakit Zahidov in court on October 4 (Turan)
PRAGUE, October 4, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A Baku court today sentenced an Azerbaijani journalist to three years in prison on charges that critics described as politically motivated.