Video Blogger Who Questioned Pashinyan Faces 9 Years in Prison

In Baku, the trial of Azerbaijani video blogger Ata Abdullayev continued today at the Serious Crimes Court. It is noteworthy that this is the same blogger who posed provocative questions to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Armenian Church of the Forty Martyrs in Milan. However, Abdullayev is not being prosecuted for questioning Pashinyan, reported Hraparak.

According to publications in the Azerbaijani press, Ata Abdullayev is accused of fraud and extortion. During today’s session, it was announced that the court considers the trial to be concluded, and the prosecutor demanded a 9-year prison sentence for Abdullayev. His lawyer stated that he was not prepared to deliver a defense speech. The next court session is scheduled for December 28.

Notably, Abdullayev is accused of fraud and extortion, specifically for contacting various individuals and demanding substantial sums of money, threatening that otherwise, he would publicize defamatory information about them.