He is a frequent commentator on the world's major radio and TV channels, including CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, NBC and CBC.
[9] Zeynalov, who was born in the Soviet Union, had been subject to a massive smear campaign since Gezi summer protests erupted in June 2013 for criticizing the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
When a corruption scandal broke out in December 2013, Erdogan sued Zeynalov for posting a news report on the graft allegations, seeking up to six years in prison.
[citation needed] Zeynalov posted a Twitter message on 25 December 2013, criticizing newly appointed police chiefs for refusing to comply with orders of prosecutors.
Zeynalov's tweet was about corruption charges against public employees and a Saudi businessman, Yasin al-Qadi who was listed by the U.S. as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
[citation needed] Turkish lawmaker and opposition politician Sezgin Tanrıkulu submitted a parliamentary inquiry, demanding the government to explain on what grounds they deported Zeynalov.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Arınç acknowledged in a parliamentary response that the government deported Zeynalov, contradicting Erdoğan's previous statement, saying that his visa was expired.
[15] The New York Times included Zeynalov among outspoken journalists Nazlı Ilıcak and Mehmet Baransu, both of whom were later imprisoned, for continuing covering the corruption scandal despite pressure on the media.
Zeynalov's readers in the West launched a campaign to support the journalist against Twitter, forcing the social media giant to cave in.