New Trial of Journalist Begins

The Ismayilli court on March 12 under the chairmanship of Azad Aliyev held a preparatory meeting on the case of an employee of the Internet publication Azerbaijan Saat, Elchin Ismayilli.

The journalist is accused of defamation. The trial is scheduled for April 9.

The lawsuit was filed by the head of the Ismayilli branch of the Disabled Chernobyl Society Maleyka Latifova, who requires financial compensation.

According to the journalist, at today's meeting it became clear that the lawsuit against him was also filed by the director of the factory making school uniforms Latafet Mammadova. She also requires compensation for the insult.

Both women require the publication of an apology in the newspaper Azadlig for insulting the residents of Ismayilli in social networks.

However, the journalist claims that he is not related to the status on the inhabitants of Ismayilli.

"As for the Azadlig newspaper, I generally did not publish any material on Ismayilli there and these complaints are meant to limit my journalistic activities. The true reason for my prosecution is videos of complaints from residents of the area on their problems, which have been shown on Azerbaijan Saat,” Elchin Ismayilli told Turan.

The TV program Azerbaijan Saat is known for its critical shows of the authorities of Azerbaijan. Earlier, on charges of disorderly conduct the columnist of this Internet channel Seymour Hazi was arrested.

The producer Khalid Garayev was subjected to administrative arrest for 25 days. Other members of this program, Ganimat Zahidov and Natig Adilov were forced to leave the country. -03B-