On May 8 the Baku Grave Crimes Court held a closed hearing on the case of Tolishy Sado newspaper editor Hilal Mammadov. Judge Azer Orujov presided over the hearing. In his interview with the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) after the hearing, journalist’s lawyer Ramiz Mammadov said that the petitions filed by the defense in the previous hearing were not granted by the judge.
“We had petitioned the court to remove unreliable evidence from the case. This petition was not granted along with another one requesting the appointment of a new forensic examination. The judge granted only one petition, review of two USB flash drives that contain texts of two addresses made by Hilal Mammadov” said the lawyer and added that the next hearing will be held on May 15, 10:30am.
Background: Journalist Hilal Mammadov is charged with illegal possession of drugs in large quantities (Article 234.4.3/Criminal Code), treason (Article 274/Criminal Code), and incitement to national, racial, social and religious hatred and hostility (Article 283/Criminal Code).