ECHR obliges Azerbaijani authorities to pay compensation to persecuted journalists and activists

The European Court of Human Rights has published judgments in the cases of three Azerbaijani journalists and a religious activist, ruling to pay them compensation. They complained about the groundlessness of their detention.

The ECtHR recognized the violation of the applicants' rights and decided to pay journalists Ikram Rahim and Elchin Ismayilli 1,750 euros each for moral damages. Religious activist Ruzi Ismailov will receive 4,000 euros. Journalist Polad Aslanov was given compensation in the amount of 1,800 euros.

Ikram Rahimov was detained in 2018, found guilty of extortion through threats, and sentenced to five years in prison. In December 2020, he was released on parole. Elchin Ismayilli was also arrested in February 2017 on charges of extortion and subsequently sentenced to 9 years in prison. In March 2021, he was pardoned. Polad Aslanov was sentenced to 16 years for treason and is still being held in custody. Ismayilov was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2015 and pardoned four years later.