Experts believe illegal seizure of bank accounts "Azadlig"

Baku city Yasamal court froze the bank account of the country's leading opposition newspaper "Azadlig". The followed the decision of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, to dismiss the appeal of "Azadlig",  and its correspondent, Ramin Deko, to the lower courts for claims against them, filed by the owner of the shopping center "Bina" Kabira Mamedova. As compensation for moral damage, according to the court decision, the newspaper has to pay 30,000 manat (about $ 38,000), and a reporter - 2,000 manat (approximately $ 2.5 million.) 

According to Chairman of the NGO "Enlightenment in the field of human rights", Irada Javadova, stated when the state-owned enterprise to disseminate print "Gasid", refused to pay the debt in the amount of the daily edition of 50,000 manat, the leadership of "Azadlig" should apply a counterclaim in the economic Court N1, and then  to the higher authorities. In this case, the attempt to start the process of a court of general jurisdiction is doomed to failure, she said.

Director of the Media Rights Institute, Rashid Hajili, considers that the decision of appeal, as well as the Yasamal District Court are links in a single chain of political pressure on opposition media.

First, the information in the newspaper of extortion in the shopping center "Bina" confirmed that on 19th January, approximately 300 entrepreneurs blocked the highway protesting against the harsh unreasonable rent increases, and then a few "ringleaders" were imprisoned.

Second, suddenly the publisher of "Azerbaijan" urgently needed 20,000 manat, which has outstanding debts with the newspaper "Azadlig." Third, several previous court decisions to pay the newspaper 30,000 manat ($ 38.2 million) in connection with the suit of the chief of the Baku Tagi Akhmedov came into force.

According to him, in such a situation, where procedural rules were violated, the Supreme Court made ​​a decision in the absence of the defendants. Therefore, the editorial staff have no other choice, but to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. --17D--