Court of Appeal Upholds Verdict on Journalist

Baku / 20.02.18 / Turan: Baku Appeal Court today rejected a complaint against the verdict on Aziz Orujov, the executive director of Internet TV Canal 13.

The meeting was chaired by Judge Amir Bayramov.

Lawyer Javad Javadov asked to send a request to the Constitutional Court about the interpretation of the new version of Article 192 of the Criminal Code (illegal business), adopted in the summer of 2016.

According to the new edition, illegal business is considered to be an activity without creating a tax account and obtaining a license if it is required.

However, the Center for Caucasian Media Studies, which appears in the materials of the investigation for alleged financial violations, was a taxpayer. The license for its activity was not required.

Further, the defense applied for the summons to the court of experts who signed the Financial Control of Activities Act of the said NGO headed by the brother of the convict Anar Azizov.

The lawyer drew attention to the fact that the act was formally drawn up and just recorded a conclusion about the verification of a completely different NGO headed by Zohrab Ismail.

However, the court rejected both motions.

Counsel Javadov said the accusations had nothing to do with Aziz Orujov, since he did not hold any position at the Center for Caucasian Media Studies and did not receive grants or sign documents.

Another lawyer, Bahruz Bayramov, also called the criminal case biased and asked to acquit Aziz Orujov.

Aziz Orujov himself said the accusations and criminal case were not viable. At the same time, he pointed to the obvious falsification of the certificate of financial examination, which refers to a committed other NGO and its leader.

Nevertheless, the court dismissed the complaint and upheld the verdict. The process was monitored by representatives of the democratic public, including the chairman of the National Council of Democratic Forces, Jamil Hasanli.

The defense does not agree with the verdict and will file an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Aziz Orujov was arrested on May 2, 2017 for 30 days on charges of an administrative offense - disobedience to the police. At the end of this period, he was charged on criminal charges: 192 (illegal business) and 308 (abuse of official powers). Later, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison, not pleading guilty.

Human rights organizations recognize him as a political prisoner. -03D06--