Journalist wants to obtain removal of a criminal record

Baku / 13.12.19 / Turan: The chief editor of the Basta website, Mustafa Hajibayli, went to court to remove his criminal record, which does not give the journalist the right to participate in early parliamentary elections.

Hajibeyli told Turan that he intends to run for deputy in one of the districts of Baku. However, the conditional sentence applicable to him does not allow him to do so.

The lawsuit was filed at the place of residence - in the Bianagdi District Court for release from the remaining sentence.

“As for the forecasts regarding the fairness of the trial, everyone knows that all decisions related to the elections depend on the political will of the authorities,” Hajibeyli said.

* On July 9, 2018, the Prosecutor General’s Office filed a lawsuit on the dissemination of “false information” and “illegal calls” on the Internet in connection with the attempt on the head of Ganja Elmar Veliyev and the energy blackout in Mingachevir, when almost all of Azerbaijan was left without power supply. 

After that, the prosecutor’s office appealed to the Ministry of Communications to block the sites “Bastainfo.com”, “criminalaz.com”, “topxeber.az” and “fia.az”.

At first, Hajibayli was involved as a witness. However, on November 30, he was transferred to the status of the accused. In particular, he was charged under  the Articles of the Criminal Code: 281.2 (appeals against the state), 309.2 (abuse of power) and 313 (forgery). With respect to the editor, a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a transfer under police supervision.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Arlem Desir, Reporters Without Borders and other international organizations condemned the verdict against the journalist.  -06C--