Appeals Court Frees Azerbaijani Editor

(RFE/RL) January 16, 2007 -- An appeals court in Azerbaijan has released the editor of an opposition website who was jailed for campaigning against a sharp rise in energy prices, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service reported.

Bakhtiyar Hadjiyev, editor of the susmayaq.biz website, said he was released late on January 15, but provided no further details.


Earlier reports said a district court in Baku had sentenced Hadjiyev to 12 days in jail.


Under a government decision last week, prices for gasoline have risen by 50 percent and household electricity prices have risen by 300 percent.


Prices for public transport have also risen.


(with material from Turan)