12 July 2008, 13:14
Reporters without Borders: Azerbaijan stages a trial on attack on journalist
The international organization in defence of the press named "Reporters without Borders" has again criticized the trial on the case concerning the attack on Agil Halil, a journalist of the "Azadlyg" newspaper, having called the trial to be a farce. The organization made this conclusion on the basis of the latest two sessions, held on July 7 and 9.
"It's not an objective trial, and the defendant is not the person who attacked Halil on March 13. This trial is a farce held with two aims in mind: to shelter actual criminals and discredit Halil," runs the press release of the organization that arrived to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
Representatives of the "Reporters without Borders" mark that Judge Shain Abdullaev refused to listen to the eyewitnesses of the attack on Halil on February 22. The court also refused to consider the objections and proofs, gathered by Agil Halil's defence in relation to telephone calls and sms-messages, allegedly made and sent from his phone. The investigation has failed to provide the court with any official materials from mobile operators confirming that such calls and sms-messages were really made, the statement of the "Reporters without Borders" emphasized.
We remind you that at present the judicial investigation on the case about the attack on March 13 is over. The speech of Prosecutor Eldar Gamzaev is appointed on July 14.
Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent
