Azerbaijani court that considers journalist Khazi's case refuses to treat defendants as victims

The Apsheron District Court of Azerbaijan has begun hearing the case of journalist Seimur Khazi, accused in hooliganism. During the court session, Khazi denied the charges and called them politically motivated. Magerram Gasanov, who is in the prisoner's dock together with the journalist, has refused to testify. The court dismissed the advocates' petition to recognize both defendants as victims.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Seimur Khazi, an observer of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) newspaper, was detained on August 29. According to law enforcers, the journalist beat up a stranger named Magerram Gasanov.

Khazi believes that a provocation was staged against him in connection with his journalistic activities. "I was informed a week in advance that I should be arrested. I was expecting this and agreed in advance with the lawyer Elton Guliev," said Khazi.

The court session has revealed "an absolute falsification of the criminal case," said Ali Kerimli the leader of the PFPA, who was watching the trial.

Let us note here that Khazi covered in "Azadlyg" the topics of domestic and foreign policy and criticized the Azerbaijani authorities. He was also one of the leading presenters of the programme "Azerbaijani Hour" on an on-line television channel, where he was toughly critical of corruption and human rights violations.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.