Azerbaijani midfielder Cavid Huseynov plays in the Euro 2016 qualifying match against Croatia in Osijek on October 14, 2014.
By RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service
May 31, 2016
BAKU — A top Azerbaijani soccer player has been sentenced to four years in jail in connection with the high-profile beating death of a journalist.
A district court in Baku on May 31 found Cavid Huseynov guilty of failing to warn authorities of the planned attack on Rasim Aliyev.
The court then sentenced Huseynov, who plays for Qabala FK and has represented Azerbaijan as well.
Huseynov has denied any wrongdoing.
Aliyev, 30, died in a Baku hospital on August 9, 2015, after being beaten the previous day.
The journalist said while in hospital that he was attacked by Huseynov’s supporters in retaliation for criticism of Huseynov that Aliyev posted on his Facebook page.
Huseynov was not among the attackers.
In April, five men were found guilty of beating Aliyev to death. They were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine to 13 years.