Witnesses Did Not Come to Journalist�s Trial

Baku / 12.02.19 / Turan: In the Baku Court of Grave Crimes today, the trial continued in the case of Mustafa Hajibeyli, the editor-in-chief of the www.bastainfo.com website.

The defendant petitioned for video and audio recording of the trial. "We need to keep a video and audio recording of the trial, because the judge and the witnesses so quietly speak that they cannot be heard. No microphones are used. If there is a recording, at least we can later listen to that and understand what they are talking about," said Hajibeyli.

The judge said the petitions would be considered at the next meeting.

Since the witnesses did not come to the trial, the hearing was postponed to February 19.

* On July 9, the Prosecutor General"s Office opened a criminal case on the dissemination of "false information" and "illegal appeals" to the Internet in connection with the attempt on the head of Ganja Elmar Veliyev and the energy blackout in Mingachevir when almost all of Azerbaijan was left without power supply.

After that, the prosecutor's office appealed to the Ministry of Communications to block the websites Bastainfo.com, Criminalaz.com, Topxeber.az and Fia.az.

At first, Hajibeyli passed as a witness. However, on November 30, he was transferred to the status of the accused. In particular, he was charged under the Criminal Code articles 281.2 (appeals against the state), 309.2 (abuse of office) and 313 (official forgery).

Regarding the editor, a preventive measure was chosen in the form of a police surveillance program. He denies all the charges. -03B-