Newspaper editor Ayyub Karimov has been given a 18-month suspended sentence after being convicted of libelling the interior minister Ramil Usubov. Ububov claimed articles printed in the Azadlyg and Femida 007 newspapers were inaccurate and damaged his dignity and honour, citing article 147.2 of the criminal code, slander by accusal of committing grave crimes. The minister’s lawyer demanded a two-year prison sentence and is considering appealing the sentence. Karimov has also vowed to appeal the verdict.