Seymur Hazi , a co-host of the "Azerbaijan Hour" (Azeri: Azarbaycan Saati) online and satellite TV programme and also a columnist with major opposition newspaper Azadliq, was detained on hooliganism charges in late August and placed in pre-trial detention for two months.

If convicted, he will face a prison term of up to seven years.

According to earlier media reports, the authorities said Hazi had injured a man in an unprovoked attack but Hazi's lawyer said the journalist had been assaulted by an unknown man and hit the assailant in self-defence. Opposition media said the case was "a planned provocation against Hazi" and that the journalist was being persecuted for his criticism of the authorities.