Media Rights Institute Draws Conclusion of Hilal Mamedov Case

Today at Baku Court of Grave Crimes chaired by Azer Orujov a private hearing took place on the editor of the newspaper Tolyshi Sado Hilal Mamedov.

At the meeting, they considered the charges brought against Mamedov - of treason and inciting ethnic and religious hatred.

According to the lawyer Khalid Bagirov, today concluded the testimony of witnesses on these charges.

Protection petitioned to invite experts who gave an opinion on the linguistic and technical forensic examinations - Ilhama Guliyeva, Almaz Bayramova and Mamed Ramazanov. The judge granted the motion and scheduled the next closed session on April 17.

In turn, the Media Rights Institute (MRI) gave a second opinion under charges of inciting ethnic and religious hatred.

MRI has analyzed the interviews, articles and speeches by Mamedova specified in the indictment and found that they are in line with article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights on freedom of expression and Article 47 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan.

MRI notes that in these materials was not inciting ethnic and religious hatred.

During the hearing, the police prevented the camera and video reporters outside the courthouse.

In this case, the lawyer Bagirov protested the actions of the police, after which he was not allowed into the court building. -16C06-