Azerbaijan: court dismisses the claim against the editor of the "Azadlyg" newspaper

On October 8, the Yasamal District Court of the capital of Azerbaijan, presided by Judge Svetlana Ahmedova, finished the litigation on the claim of the Minister of Economic Development Geidar Babaev against the editor-in-chief of the oppositional newspaper ""Azadlyg" Ganimat Zakhidov.

Elchin Gambarov, Mr Zakhidov's defender, has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the Judge had partially satisfied the claim, having obliged the editor-in-chief to publish a refutation. The second part of the claim demanding to arrest G. Zakhidov was defeated.

Editor Zakhidov himself, while making his comments on the ruling of court, has expressed his readiness to publish the Minister's position. However, he is not going to publish a refutation as it is not clear from the court's ruling what it should be about. In this context, Ganimat Zakhidov wants to file an appeal complaint.

Advocate Elchin Gambarov has already informed the "Caucasian Knot" that Anar Aliev, a claimant's representative, had refuted the media publications that the case was politically motivated.

The cause of the claim was an article published in the August issue of the "Azadlyg" running that the wedding party of American diplomat Matthew Bryza was financed by the Minister of Economic Development of Azerbaijan Geidar Babaev. The claimant demanded that a refutation be published and the editor brought to criminal liability for slander.