Azerbaijan has sentenced a pro-democracy activist to 10 years in prison amid an ongoing crackdown on dissenting voices under President Ilham Aliyev's government.
A Baku court on October 25 found Qiyas Ibrahimov, a 21-year-old activist who belongs to the NIDA pro-democracy youth group, guilty of drug trafficking.
Amnesty International said the charges were a "shocking assault on freedom of expression."
Denis Krivosheyev, the group's deputy director for Europe and Central Asia, said in a October 26 statement that the verdict handed to Ibrahimov was "an absolute travesty of justice."
Ibrahimov and another activist, Bayram Mammadov, were arrested in May for painting antigovernment graffiti on a monument in the capital, Baku.
The monument was a tribute to late Azerbaijani President Heidar Aliyev, the father of the current president.
Human Rights Watch has called on authorities to "immediately free" the activists and investigate allegations that they were mistreated while in police custody.
Dozens of journalists and activists who have been jailed in recent years have said they were targeted for their criticism of authorities.
Azerbaijan Jails Pro-Democracy Activist For 10 Years
Updated
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Investigation: As Cubans Flock To Russia's War, Is Havana Playing Dumb?
2RFE/RL Journalist Kuznechyk Released After More Than 3 Years In Belarus Prison
3Hegseth Says Return To Ukraine's Pre-2014 Borders 'Unrealistic'
4Trump Says He And Putin Agreed To 'Start Negotiations Immediately' On Ending War In Ukraine
5Romanian Opposition Welcomes Vance Comments On Election Annulment
6'They Must Return Everything': Ukrainians React To Proposed Territory Swap
7Public Anger Rises As Iran's Economy Worsens
8Spain Uncovers Tons Of Chemicals Destined For Russia, RFE/RL Learns
9Ukraine Live Briefing: Europe's 'New Reality'
10Zelenskyy Says He Will 'Meet With Only One Russian: Putin'
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.