Judicial Legal Council initiated disciplinary proceedings against "hero" of Elshad Abdullayev"s movie

The Judicial-Legal Council (JLC) of Azerbaijan has decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the judge of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes Agababa Babayev.

The reason for that was the online appearing on Nov. 16 of Babayev's videotaped interview with the former rector of Azerbaijan International University (AIU) Elshad Abdullayev.

During the meeting held in June 2007 Babayev, citing police heads, told Abdullayev that his brother, who was abducted in 2003, was in the department for fight against organized crime, and of his possible short trial.

Furthermore, the judge makes a confession about the corruption of law enforcement agencies, and the arrest of rich businessmen with their subsequent release for large bribes.

"The Zulfugarli brothers were released only after they gave 5 million," said the judge. At the same time, he complained that he "was not given a dime."

The JLC decided on Babayev after hearing the Prosecutor General's information.

Members of the JLC indicated that the facts shown on video are not only detrimental to the credibility of justice and high rank judges, but also indicate a serious violation of the Code of Ethics of Judges and the Law on Combating Corruption.

The head of the Association of Lawyers of Azerbaijan Annagi Hajibeyli, commenting on the JLC decision, noted that as a result of the disciplinary inquiry, decisions can be made on Babayev in the form of warning, reprimand, or report to the President to terminate the powers of the judge.

However, in the opinion of Hajibeyli, in this case, consideration of the case by the JLC was not necessary, because the facts of violation of the law are clear and the prosecution itself could apply for depriving the judge of his immunity. -06B -