Prosecutor Wants to Sentence Journalist to Punishment

Baku / 12.03.19 / Turan: On March 12, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes chaired by Eldar Mikayilov held a meeting on the case of the criminal.az website editor Anar Mammadov.

Recall that on July 9, 2018, the Prosecutor General"s Office opened a criminal case on the dissemination to the Internet of "false information" and "illegal appeals" in connection with the attempt on the life of Ganja"s chief executive Elmar Veliyev and the energy blackout in Mingachevir in the summer of 2018.

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".

Mammadov was charged under the Criminal Code: 281.2 (appeals against the state), 309.2 (abuse of office) and 313 (official forgery) of the Criminal Code, which he rejects.

At today's meeting, lawyer Elchin Sadigov petitioned for information on whether the expert who gave an opinion on publications on criminal.az has an education of political scientist.

The lawyer also asked to attach to the case documents about the presence of Mammadov"s diploma in the specialty "international journalism" issued by the BSU, since the judge had earlier called the accused a "blogger". The court rejected both petitions.

After that, there was a final statement by the prosecutor, who asked the court to sentence Mammadov to 5.5 years in prison. At the same time, the state representative himself asked to apply Article 70 of the Criminal Code on conditional punishment.

As a result, the prosecutor proposed sentencing Mammadov to 5.5 years of imprisonment on probation for two years.

The next meeting, where the lawyer and the journalist himself will speak with the last word is scheduled for 4:30 pm on March 15.

Mammadov told Turan he did not agree with the speech of the prosecutor and intends to seek an acquittal. -06D--