Journalist Tapdig Farhadoglu Addresses to President

A renowned journalist, correspondent of Turan IA and the radio Voice of America Tapdig Farhadoglu appealed to President Ilham Aliyev on November 7.

The journalist asks him as a "friend of media" to assist in the restoration of his rights and provide an objective investigation into his beating by the head of Baku State University (BSU) security service.

The appeal reminded that the attack occurred during the performance of his professional duties as a journalist while covering a rally of the students. At this point, the chief of the BSU guard service, Mahir Hojjatov struck him from behind.

Despite overwhelming evidence of physical pressure on journalists, the Yasamal district prosecutor's office refused to institute criminal proceedings.

Along with the appeal to the head of state, Farhadoglu filed a lawsuit against the investigator of the Yasamal prosecutor’s office in connection with the refusal to open a criminal case.

The lawsuit asks to recognize the decision of the investigator Mubariz Asadov to start a criminal investigation as illegal.

Recall that the incident took place on February 20, 2013, while covering a protest rally of the students in front of BSU. The head of the BSU security service, Mahir Hojjatov struck several blows and kicks on the back and head of the journalist, who was filming the protest of the students.

After complaining by the journalist, the case was investigated in Yasamal Police and the briefs were submitted to the district prosecutor. The examination was appointed twice.

The first of them in March confirmed the presence of injuries as a result of strikes.

A few days after the incident, the state of the journalist began to deteriorate sharply.

In April, doctors pronounced displacement of a disc of the spine, and on 10 April the journalist was performed complicated surgery on the spine. As a result, the journalist has not recovered completely.

Doctors in Medical Plaza (where the operation was performed) have drawn the conclusion that the injury could contribute to the vertebral disc displacement.

The journalist repeatedly appealed to the prosecutor, however the reexamination considered this "unlikely." According to the experts, the vertebral hernia could not result from physical pressure on him.

On this basis, the investigator of the Yasamal District Prosecutor, Mubariz Asadov refused to open a criminal case.

However, the decision to refuse was made by the investigator still on 10 May, and the conclusion of the second examination is dated June 9.

The prosecutors ignored footage confirming the use of force against the journalist, and not only by Hojjatov, but also by another employee of the BSU security. Numerous witnesses were not questioned either.

After the publication of information about it in the media on 16 September, the Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov took personal control of the investigation of the complaint about the biased investigation.

"A certain revival started. I was invited and listened by the Pro-rector of BSU. I offered them at least to reimburse my expenses for surgery and treatment. He said that he would call back, but he was gone. A few days later, I learned that the decision to dismiss the criminal case remained in force.

Therefore, I decided to appeal to the head of state and I have also filed a lawsuit in the Yasamal court.

I hope that the Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov again intervenes. In my opinion, he is misinformed," said Farhadoglu.

He also counts on the support by the Joint Working Group for Human Rights. -06B-