Court Dismisses Appeal of Journalist of Ban on Leaving Azerbaijan

Yesterday the Nasimi District Court held a review of the complaint from the freelance journalist Natig Javadli about restriction of his freedom of movement.

A year ago, the border guards did not release him from the country without explanation.

Later, he was repeatedly summoned to the Investigation Department for Serious Crimes at the Prosecutor General's Office and interrogated about his collaboration with the online edition Meydan TV.

It later emerged that the prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case against the "officials» of Meydan TV. However Javadli never held a job in this publication and he was not a staff member there.

Javadli considers the restriction of his freedom of movement illegal. However, the court dismissed his appeal without explanation.

The journalist told Turan he intends to appeal and file a lawsuit against the prosecutor's office to the administrative-economic court.

Note that about 10 journalists are not permitted to leave Azerbaijan on suspicion of their cooperation with Meydan TV. No one can explain whether such cooperation is a crime. -06B--