The lawyer for investigative journalist Hafiz Babali in Azerbaijan said on December 14 that his client was detained the day before on a charge of illegal foreign-currency smuggling, which the journalist rejects. According to Rasul Cafarov, Babali's detention is linked to the case against four journalists of the independent Abzas Media news website who were arrested in late November after police claimed they found 40,000 euros ($43,222) in cash in Abzas's offices. The journalists insist the case against them is trumped-up in retaliation for reports about official corruption. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, click here.
Another Azerbaijani Journalist Charged With Illegal Currency Smuggling
Hafiz Babali (file photo)