The Baku Serious Crimes Court chaired by Eldar Mikailova began consideration of the criminal case against the editor of the website Jam.az Fikret Faramazoglu.
According to the lawyer Javad Javadov, the defense applied for carrying out handwriting examination of Faramazoglu’s signatures under the protocol on detention and seizure of evidence. Journalist denies belonging these signatures to him. The protocols referred to banknotes which were seized from him during the arrest. Being asked about the evidence of the receipt of money by a journalist, the lawyer said that accepting a bribe has not been documented by video. There is no other evidence, including fingerprints of journalist. Usually in cases of taking bribes, used invisible compositions and fingerprints are not washed and viewed under ultraviolet light. In the case of Faramazoglu there was nothing of this kind. However, the judge rejected the request of a lawyer. Due to the fact that three of the victims announced their intention to file a civil action against and Faramazoglu, the hearing was postponed until 15 December.
Fikret Faramazoglu was arrested on June 30, 2016, and he is charged under Article 182 of the Criminal Code (extortion by threats.) According to the Interior Ministry, the journalist would be arrested at the moment of taking bribe from the entrepreneur in the amount of 3,000 manat. Then the charge against the journalist was increased as an "extortion by a group of persons by means of threats or committing such acts in order to seize the property."
On the first charge Faramazoglu will be punished by imprisonment for a five year term, and now he may face 10 years with confiscation of property. Fikret Faramazoglu is recognized as political prisoners by some human rights activists. -06B-
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An online meeting of civil society activists focused on the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, convened on the initiative of the Justice Solidarity Committee, highlighted significant concerns over the detention of journalists, political activists, and opponents of the war. The gathering, held on August 30, coincided with the International Day of Remembrance of the Missing and underscored the ongoing challenges facing both Azerbaijani and Armenian societies in the wake of the Karabakh conflicts.
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No precipitation is expected in Baku and on the Absheron Peninsula; the northwestern wind will change to a southeastern wind during the day. Air temperatures will range from 21-26°C at night and 33-38°C during the day, according to the National Hydrometeorology Service of the Ministry of Ecology.
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A fire has erupted at the Experimental and Testing Production of the Scientific Research Institute of SOCAR (the state oil company) in the Surakhani district of Baku, the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported. "Thanks to the urgent and necessary measures taken by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the spread of the fire to neighboring areas, including nearby residential buildings, has been prevented," the statement reads. Efforts to extinguish the fire are still ongoing.
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In September, the average monthly air temperature in Azerbaijan is expected to be close to the climatic norm. Precipitation levels will also be near the norm, but in some areas, they will exceed it, according to the September forecast from the National Hydrometeorological Service.
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