Journalist Elman Abbasov interrogated for three hours

 An independent journalist from Nakhchivan, Elman Abbasov, was questioned in the Sadarak Prosecutor Office for three hours on December 26. 

According to Abbasov himself, his interrogation, just like the interrogation of his colleague Ilgar Nasibov which lasted for six hours, was associated with an incident on December 8 in Sadarak customs between customs officers and businessmen Nadir Mammadov and Mamed Gurbanov.

Abbasov said that it has not been explained to him in what capacity he was invited and gave evidence; is he a witness or something else?

Generally, he was asked about the details of the incident. "The investigator was trying to confuse me with his questions and present me and Ilgar Nasibov as guilty," said Abbasov.

According to him, the investigation continues to use evidence which Nadir Mammadov gave under torture, that the conflict with the customs officers was provoked by two journalists.

Despite the fact that Nadir Mammadov has refuted his testimony against journalists and told his lawyer about it, the investigation continues to use it. Taking into account the realities in Nakhchivan, Elman Abbasov believes that there is a great risk that the journalists can be arrested.

* Entrepreneurs Nadir Mammadov and Mammad Gurbanov were arrested on December 11 by the Sadarak Court of Nakhchivan for two months. They are accused under Articles 315.1 and 315.2 (resistance to authority).

The conflict with the customs officers began after Mamed Gurbanov refused to pay a bribe for goods imported from Turkey.  His goods were confiscated, and the entrepreneurs themselves were beaten and detained.  Journalists were invited by the businessmen to conduct an investigation.  -05B04-