Two bloggers who called for friendship with Russia were convicted of espionage in Azerbaijan

An Azerbaijani court sentenced Ibrahim Hasanov and Ibrahim Gumbatov to 14 and 13 years (!) in prison, recognizing their accusation of espionage in favor of Russia as fair.

Turansky Express writes about this, pointing out that these public figures were ordinary publicists who had nothing to do with public service and, accordingly, any state secret.

"In fact, Hasanov and Gumbatov were convicted for their kind attitude to Russia, which was previously in Baku was not considered a crime, and now for some reason it qualifies as espionage and treason," the statement said.

It is assumed that these people were chosen as victims precisely because they are not politicians or parliamentarians. These are absolutely simple people without connections, but with their own position.

The authors of the material note the obvious influence of external forces that were able to impose a Russophobic vector on the Azerbaijani leadership. And this is despite the fact that President Ilham Aliyev recently spoke about partnership and friendship with Russia, supporting the corresponding sentiments in society.

"But times have changed, and now in Baku can get a sentence for any public statement in which Russia is positioned as a friendly country for Azerbaijan," the bloggers state.

In their opinion, forces hostile to Moscow are trying to make the gap between the two countries insurmountable. Any means are used for this black purpose, including the accusation of innocent citizens of Azerbaijan who dared to talk about the indestructible brotherhood of the two peoples.

Earlier, EADaily reported that Azerbaijan is not an ally of Russia in Transcaucasia, because this country has become an ally of Turkey. This was stated by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on CIS Affairs Konstantin Zatulin.