The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Azerbaijani authorities to release photojournalist Vali Shukurzade, who was detained on February 4 in Baku. He was charged with hooliganism and disobeying police orders and sentenced to 30 day of administrative detention on February 5. Shukurzade's lawyer told the New York-based CPJ that his appeal was rejected on February 10. "Azerbaijani authorities should release Shukurzade and ensure that members of the press do not face trumped-up charges in retaliation for their work," CPJ said in a statement on February 15.
