MARCH 3 2017 (The Conway Bulletin) — The authorities in Azerbaijan imprisoned a blogger known for criticising the government, drawing fresh criticism from media and human rights activists who have complained of a crackdown on the dwindling band of dissenters (March 3).

Mehman Huseynov, known for blogs that exposed official corruption, was convicted of libel, a tactic that his supporters say has been used by the Azerbaijani authorities to silence journalists, lawyers, opposition activists and NGO workers.

A group of 24 human rights organisations signed a joint letter calling for Huseynov to be released.

“Today’s sentencing and jailing of Mehman Huseynov is outrageous – another example of Azerbaijan’s best and brightest being targeted for expressing opinions critical of the ruling Aliyev regime,” Rebecca Vincent, UK Bureau Director for Reporters Without Borders, said in a statement.

“It also shows that nothing has changed since the release of a number of high-profile political prisoners last year.”

Members of the European Parliament have clashed with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev over his treatment of dissenters, although the European Union has dodged taking any official action. It needs to keep relations with Azerbaijan strong as it plans to buy most of its gas from the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea.

Huseynov said on Jan. 9 that police had detained him for verbally abusing a passerby. He said that the police had then beaten him for resisting arrest.