The trial in the case of the editor of Jam.az will begin on 6 December

Today Baku Serious Crimes Court chaired by Judge Eldar Mikailov held a preparatory meeting in the case of the head of the site "Jam.az" Fikret Faramazoglu. According to the correspondent of Turan, at today's meeting the lawyer Elchin Sadigov made a motion to dismiss the case or changing the measure of restraint on house arrest. The judge dismissed the application and scheduled  the beginning of the trial on the merits on 6 December. After the meeting Faramazoglu’s wife said she does not expect a fair solution. According to her, the pressure on him is still in progress.

Fikret Faramazoglu was arrested on June 30, 2016, and was charged under  the Article 182 of the Criminal Code (extortion by threats). According to the Interior Ministry, the journalist was arrested at the moment of getting 3,000 manat bribe  from entrepreneur. Then the charge against the journalist was increased  to "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 term of five years,  but now he  can be convicted to 10 years with confiscation of property. Fikret Faramazoglu  is recognized as political prisoners by local human rights activists. -16/36d-