Chief editor of the newspaper Khural A. Zeynalli refused to give evidence to the court

The chief editor of Khural Avaz Zeynalli has refused to testify before the court until the witness for the prosecution - former MP Guler Ahmadova comes. It is on the basis of her complaint Zeynalov was arrested last year on charges of bribery. Subsequently, he was charged in tax evasion and enforcement of judgments.

At the trial in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes on November 7 Judge Ramella Allahverdiyeva said that witnesses Akif Heydarov and Ahmadova could not come to court due to illness.

This caused outrage from Zeynalli, who said that he refused to testify until Ahmadova came.

He also demanded the court provide appearance of the presidential administration's head Ramiz Mehdiyev. Zeynalli believes that he was arrested at his request. The journalist said that Mehdiyev filed a claim against him, on which he was fined at 10,000 manats (about 12,000 dollars).

Then the judge and the prosecutor left the courtroom.

After some time, the court clerk announced that the next meeting will be held on November 14 at 14:00.

Zeynalli's lawyer, Director of Media Rights (IPM) Institute, Rashid Hajili, told Turan that in reality the journalist does not refuse to testify to the court in general. He only requires protection of his rights.

Zeynalli was arrested on complaint of Ahmadova and now to protect his rights, he should be able to ask her relevant questions.

According to the lawyer, either Ahmadova must come to court or her testimony should be excluded from the prosecution. -06D-