On Monday, the Nasimi District Court, under the chairmanship Shalala Hasanova heard journalist Rauf Mirkadirov’s complaint over denial of access to notary. The arrested journalist wanted to sign a power of attorney for Turkish lawyers to protect his rights in Turkey.
According to the journalist’s lawyer Elmar Suleymanov, the court rejected the appeal.
The need to involve Turkish lawyers arises from infringement of Mirkadirov’s rights during his deportation from Turkey on April 19. Defence believes that he was not deported, but actually extradited.
The lawyer also said that today the journalist was not brought to court from the detention center of the Ministry of National Security, despite of the defense’s request.
Suleymanov believes the reason why Mirkadirov was not brought to court is because a few days ago, he announced his intention to make a statement in court.
The defense intends to appeal the court’s decision.
Note that Zerkalo commentator Rauf Mirkadirov was arrested on April 19, on charge of espionage. The office of the newspaper was searched in connection with the criminal case opened against him and the computer of the editor-in-chief, which contained all archives of the paper, was seized. The financial problems forced Zerkalo to shift from daily publication to monthly. As of May 31 the newspaper ceased publishing its print issue, and will only function as online publication.