BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) — The editor of an independent Azerbaijani newspaper has been sentenced to nine years in prison for bribery in a trial dismissed by his supporters and rights group as politically motivated.

A court in the Caspian nation’s capital of Baku on Tuesday found Avaz Zeynalli, editor of the Khural newspaper, guilty of bribery, extortion, contempt of court and tax evasion.