Court Acquitted Attack on Journalist

The Yasamal district court has today announced the decision on the complaint by the Turan IA and Radio Voice of America reporter, Tapdig Farhadoglu against the Yasamal Prosecutor's Office investigator Mubariz Asadov.

The journalist complained about the refusal to institute criminal proceedings in connection with the physical pressure on him while covering protests of Baku State University students.

Recall that on February 20 the head of the Security Service of BSU Mahir Hojjatov repeatedly kicked and hit on the back and the head of the journalist, who was filming the rally of students. Farhadoglu was injured and underwent surgery. As a result, he is partially disabled.

However, the judge Azer Tagiyev did not satisfy the complaint. According to the lawyer Samira Agayeva, the court reasoned the refusal by the fact that there were no witnesses to the incident.

The lawyer said the decision was unfounded and the reasoning was insolvent.

Thus, during the trial, not only witnesses, but also other journalists who suffered in the course of the action, were called. Complaints of these journalists were also included in the criminal case.

While watching the video, the judge confirmed the mutilation of Farhadoglu by Hojjatov, actually admitting an offense under Article 163 (impeding the lawful activities of journalists) of the Criminal Code.

Farhadoglu expressed disagreement with the court's decision and he intends to appeal. "Despite the obvious video evidence of my beating and obstruction of my journalistic work, the court dismissed the complaint. I intend to file an appeal, and, if necessary, to reach the European Court of Human Rights," said Farhadoglu.

Earlier, the journalist appealed to President Ilham Aliyev, the Attorney General and the Working Group for Human Rights to facilitate the objective investigation of the attack on him. -06B-