Court Aims to Silence Alekper Mammadov

A press conference concerning the pressures on human rights Alekper Mammadov was held on Friday in the Media Center. Leyla Yunus, Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, called the lawsuit against Mammadov a method of pressure. According to her, this is not the first case of harassment of human rights defenders in the country.

Alekper Mammadov actively opposed negative events in the army, which suggests that pressure on the human rights activist originated in the Ministry of Defense. A lawsuit was filed against Alekper Mammadov by the Department of Military Medical Examination on October 1, 2012. The lawsuit was in reaction to publication of details relating to soldier’s deaths.

Rasim Aliyev, head of the Department of Military Medical Examination, filed a lawsuit in Nasimi Court in connection with the violation of his honor and dignity; he demanded that Mammadov be fined 100,000 manat.

Leyla Yunus recalled that Alekper Mammadov did not say anything against Rasim Aliyev, so the honor and dignity of the plaintiff were not affected, and the claim is absurd. According to Leyla Yunus, the purpose of the trial, which has continued for five months, is to silence human rights.

Pressure on the human rights activist began after he began to hold press conferences at which he spoke about the removal of a dead soldier’s internal organs. Mammadov does not believe that the civil process should be permitted to turn into criminal proceedings. The 100,000 manat fine is unreal sum for the human rights activist. He is not able to pay even 25,000 manat.

If he does not pay the fine, he may be brought to justice. -05C04-