Journalist, who was beaten and hospitalized yesterday, dies

“The mention of the club footballer Huseynov’s name in this incident has caused deep sorrow”, the statement said.

“It has [created the feeling] that independent and opposition journalists can be safely beaten”. Since then Aliyev – who is not related to President Ilham Aliyev – had been working as a freelance journalist.

“The EU supports the principles of freedom of expression and freedom of the media, which are fundamental elements of a democratic society”, the statement read, adding that, “Azerbaijan needs to promote a safe environment for journalists and other media representatives, enabling them to carry out their work without fear of violence or persecution”. He also routinely received threats. But human rights watchdogs suspect his killing could be connected to a series of photos Aliyev had posted online showing police brutality and social discontent.

Aliyev is beaten by police at a protest rally in Baku in June 2013.

Rasim Aliyev, 30, died in the hospital where he was receiving intensive care after being seriously injured in a viscious attack perpetrated by five or six men, said his sister to the Azerbaijani news agency Turan.

Aliyev had criticized the behavior of the Azeri team Gabala’s striker Javid Huseynov who waved a Turkish flag after an August. 6 match with Cypriot team Apollon Limassol and allegedly made an offensive gesture at a journalist.

Aliyev reportedly wrote later on his Facebook page: “I do not want someone this amoral, impertinent and unable to control himself, (to) represent me on European soccer fields”.

He eventually received an angry phone call from someone claiming to be the soccer player’s cousin, who yelled and cursed at him.

After arriving at the agreed meeting place in the Sabail district of Baku, Aliyev said he felt a blow to his left ear and then fell to the ground. “South Carolina Gabala will keep captain Javid Huseynov out of the first team until the issue is cleared up”.

Huseynov has not released any comment about the incident so far. An investigation into the circumstances of his death has been opened and will be led by the Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor General, announced an Azerbaijani official.

They urged authorities Monday to conduct a full and transparent probe into the attack on Rasim Aliyev and to bring the assailants to justice.

A journalist has died from internal injuries after being attacked and beaten by supporters of a local soccer player.

Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative journalist and RFE/RL contributor who has reported extensively on the financial dealings of President Aliyev and his family, is now on trial on charges she says are politically motivated.