At Trial of S. Hazy Hearing Scheduled for December 14

The Absheron District Court today continued preliminary hearing on the case of the journalist Seymour Hazy.

At the previous meeting on November 11 the defense challenged the judge Shovket Najafova. But the challenge was rejected.

Further the defense of Hazy petitioned to invite a specialist to find out whether there was correspondence between Hazy and the other accused, Maharram Hasanov, in social networks.

Although the state prosecutor supported the petition, Hasanov and his lawyer objected. As a result, the petition was rejected.

Consideration of the merits is scheduled for December 14.

Recall that Hazy was arrested on 29 August. The next day the prosecutor general's office said that Hazy hit a Baku resident Maharram Hasanov with a bottle on his head. Against the journalist a criminal case was filed under Article 221.3 (hooliganism committed with a weapon or using other objects as weapons) of the Criminal Code. Later Hasanov was also arrested, but after a few days he was released to house arrest, and then re-arrested.

The incident was caused by claims from Hasanov, who approached Hazy in the street and demanded an explanation why he did not answer him on Facebook. Thereafter Hasanov attacked the journalist with fists. Defending himself, Hazy struck the attacker back.

Hazy himself and his colleagues believe that the true reason for his arrest was Hazy’s part in the Internet TV Azerbaijan Hour, where the authorities of Azerbaijan are subjected to harsh criticism. -06D-