Avaz Zeynalli chided colleagues for the absence of solidarity

The chief editor of Khural, Avaz Zeynalli, complained of inattention to his trial by his peers - journalists and human rights defenders. On Wednesday, in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, Zeynalli made a statement before the hearing, which blamed the leaders of independent and opposition media, media organizations and human rights defenders for the absence of solidarity with him. He complained that the trial was not attended by human rights activists and the media community. According to Zeynalli, attention to his case weakened after the Presidential Administration's department head Ali Hasanov met in June with media heads in the Press Council.

At the trial Zeynalli reiterated that the voice on the audio recording of his conversation with Gular Akhmedova listened to at the previous hearing was not really his.

Zeynalli pointed to fabrication of his criminal case. As an example he mentioned the presence of documents that do not regard him in the case file.

Judge Allahverdiyeva scheduled the next hearing for January 9.

The acting editor of the website Khural, Afghan Mukhtarly, told Turan that the trial was unnecessarily delayed for more than 7 months.

The sentencing was delayed specifically for 2013 so as not to include Zeynalli in the pre-Christmas pardon. -06D-