Minister-Generals Oppose Ganimat Zahid

Interior Minister Ramil Usubov and Emergencies Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov filed lawsuits against Ganimat Zahid, Chief Editor of Azadlig t in Yasamal district court.

The reason for the lawsuit was an article in Azadlig on March 1, under the title: "Ramil Usubov anger with Kamaladdin Heydarov."Heydarov demands that the criminal liability should be on Article 147.2 (defamation of a felony), and Usubov on Article 147.1 (defamation).

Currently overseas, Zahid regards the litigation as the resumption of malpractice against journalists in Azerbaijan by officials. "The whole world demands that Azerbaijan decriminalize liability under Articles 147-148. Two years ago, Ilham Aliyev, speaking at the Press Council, also said that these articles will be removed from the Criminal Code. However, if members of his government sue me, then it's at least a figure of insincerity from Ilham Aliyev. I will try to participate in the trial. I am ready to personally answer the charges of both ministers," said Zahid.

The head of the press service of the Interior Ministry Orkhan Mansurzadeh confirmed a lawsuit was filed.

In the article at the basis of the lawsuits, claims are made that Usubov and Heydarov are involved in a conflict between two elite groups – the Pashayev family and Ramiz Mehdiyev. Heydarov has allegedly sided with the Pashayevs and Usubov supports Mehdiyev.

The article stated that media outlets controlled by Heydarov widely reported about compromising materials regarding the authorities, which were unveiled by the videos spread by Elshad Abdullayev, former Rector of the International University

The article also stated that the videos caused anger at Usubov, confirming the involvement of his cousin, police colonel Ildrymzadeh in a crime of kidnapping. Ostensibly in response to this, Usubov instructed his entourage to compromise the Emergencies Minister and publish articles about his involvement in the murder of the Air Force commander Rail Rzayev. -03B06-