BAKU -- Azerbaijan's Supreme Court has upheld the imprisonment of the Caucasus nation's noted lawyer Intiqam Aliyev.
Aliyev was arrested in August 2014 and sentenced in April 2015 to 7 1/2 years in jail after a court found him guilty of illegal business activity, tax evasion, and abuse of authority.
Aliyev's sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeals in Baku in July 2015.
Aliyev's lawyers and supporters say the charges were retaliation for his professional activities.
Aliyev founded the Legal Education Society in 1998 to provide legal assistance to marginalized groups.
He has represented many Azerbaijani activists and human rights defenders.
His lawyer, Cavad Cavadov told RFE/RL that he plans to appeal the ruling at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Amnesty International has recognized Aliyev as a prisoner of conscience.