Aliyev is "seriously concerned” about the attack on Rasim Aliyev and views it as a "threat to independent media” in Azerbaijan, his political aide Ali Hasanov told state news agency Azartac. The president said he would take personal control of the investigation, according to Azartac.

Rasim Aliyev, 31,  was beaten by several unidentified men in the capital, Baku, on Saturday and died of his injuries in the hospital the following day, police said. 

Aliyev, who is not related to the president, worked for a number of online publications including the Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety, which receives funding from international organizations.

The journalist told Meydan TV, a Berlin-based online broadcaster, hours before his death that he was attacked by relatives of Cavid Huseynov, a striker at the Azeri soccer club Gabala FK. Huseynov waved a Turkish flag after an Aug. 6 match with Cypriot team Apollon Limassol and made a hand gesture at a Greek Cypriot journalist that Aliyev described as "immoral” on his Facebook page.

The club said it’s suspended Huseynov while the investigation goes on. The player denied involvement in the attack in a Facebook statement.

 

(Bloomberg)