Trial in the case of journalist Elchin Hasanov

On Friday, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA), chaired by Aflatun Gasimov held a hearing in the case of journalist Elchin Hasanov, who was sentenced to a year of hard labor on charges of hooliganism. The lawyer asked to justify Namazly asked to justify not referring to the proof of guilt.

In turn, the public prosecutor demanded to reclassify  the charge under the  Article 221.1 (hooliganism) to 221.3 (hooliganism with the use of cold weapons) of the Criminal Code and to tighten  punishment to 3.5 years in prison.

However, the lawyer drew attention of the state prosecutor that  in the court of first instance the matter was investigated, and the charge under Article 221.3 was lifted.  The  verdict will be announced  at 15:00 on July 25.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Civil Society (CPCS) urged the appeals court to acquit the journalist. The Committee, in his address to the court stated gross violation of the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights in the course of the investigation   Hasanov’s case.   Consideration the case  in the General Directorate for Combating organized crime Ministry of Interior is a gross violation. The charge has no legal basis, and  there are no witnesses to the incident.

Hasanov himself believes that he is being persecuted for his journalistic and opposition activities. He is the deputy editor of the Sumgait Internet newspaper “Yukselish Namine” (yukselis.info). In addition, he is  a member of the Supreme Majlis of PFPA and deputy head of the NGO "Legal Education of Sumgait Youth".  The start  of a lawsuit against Hasanov coincided with his publications on the topic of corruption and embezzlement in  the army.-06D-