At the trial in the case of the chief editor of "Khural" newspaper

At today's trial in Baku Court of Serious Crimes in the case of the Chief Editor of "Khural" newspaper,  Avaz Zeynalli, were interviewed two witnesses: the head of the Narimanov Branch of court decisions, Kamal Aliyev, and employee of the same Department, Mushfig Alirzaev.

These witnesses (with the help of state prosecutor Ramazan Hadiev) tried to hide the fact that   the execution  of the court decisions occurred  due to four court decisions. So, they mentioned  just three cases: the singer Nushaba Aleskerli, Director of publishing house "Azerbaijan" Agabek Askerov, and the head  of the Media Support State Council, Vugar Safarli.

Only after persistent demands of the defendant, the name of the fourth plaintiff, the head of the Presidential Administration, Ramiz Mehdiyev, was mentioned. 

In addition, there were contradictions and inaccuracies in the  testimonies of the witnesses,

as well as "electoral oblivion." So, Kamal Aliyev and  Mushfig Alirzaev did not remember

basic details of the case, although Alirzaev suddenly remembered the fact of   drawing up an Act in the newspaper in 2009. However,  there is not any signature of the newspaper employees under this Act is not, and there was not   such a fact, said Zeynalli.

The talk is about drawn up in connection with the refusal of edition to pay court fines.  The answers of the witnesses  to the questions from Rashid Hajili’s lawyer, and the defendant,

were not clear; it was clear that they were not familiar with the matter.

The defendant argued that the testimonies of all six executors (all of them are witnesses in the case) are identical in form and content that suggests that they are made under the dictation.

The Court did not announce the exact date of the continuation of the trial, and the defendant

said that the judge goes on leave , and the  trial will resume only after September 15.

Commenting on the  trial, the  lawyer of  Rashid Hajili said that the behavior of judges, plaintiffs and witnesses,  was  ordered. The testimonies of every  six executors are noteworthy.

The fact that court decisions  are controlled by  a single center is confirmed by the fact, that in September 2011, "suddenly" have been revived old claims to the editor  on the part of Nushaba Aleskerli, Agabek Askerov and Vugar Safarli. This occurred after  the newspaper "Khural" began to issue  every day,  and wrote more sharply  about the officials  of the highest echelons of power, including the head of state.

 " This is a desire to punish the editor,"  said Hajili.

* Avaz Zeynalli was arrested on October 28, 2011 on charges of extortion a  large sums of money from the MP Gular Ahmadova. Later, a few more charges were made against him. However, international organizations believe that the real reason for his arrest  is criticism of the authorities, and  he  was recognized as a prisoner of conscience. -04В-