January 29, Absheron district court sentenced journalist and TV presenter Seymur Hezi to five years in jail.
Hezi was arrested on August 29 on a charge of "aggravated hooliganism".
The state prosecutor originally requested six years for Hezi.
Hezi's lawyers and family are certain the arrest and the sentence are politically motivated and that Hezi is innocent. His father, Meshqul Heziyev said, "the hearing was biased and turned down all of the motions. At the end it simply carried out a politically motivated order".
In March 2011, Hezi was abducted and tortured by unidentified men. He was warned to keep quiet.
Seymur Hezi is the journalist with Azadliq Newspaper and news anchor at "Azerbaijan Hour". He is also member of the opposition Popular Front Party.