Today, 30 December, in the Binagadi District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge M. Kazimov, a hearing was conducted on the lawsuit of "Adalat" Party Chairman, Azerbaijan Milli Mejlis Member (parliamentarian) Ilyas Ismayilov under articles 147 and 148 (insult and libel) of the Criminal Code in the form of special lawsuit against "Nota" Newspaper Head Advisor Faramaz Novruzoglu (Allahverdiyev) and "24 Saat" Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ilham Tumas (Agayev).
F.Allahverdiyev considered that the lawsuit against him was put forth according to a political order and taking this lawsuit for consideration is unlawful. “First of all there’s no evidence to prove that I wrote this article,” said Allahverdiyev. “Besides, according to article 44 of law on “Mass Media”, everyone can respond to mass media institution where an article published is damaging to his honor and dignity within a month, can demand for a refutation to be published or can appeal to court directly. However, Ilyas Ismayilov appealed to court on 16.10.2008 due to an article that was published in “24 Saat” newspaper on 28.05.2008. It is unacceptable to consider this case since there’s no court decision to restore lost period.”
Judge Kazimov sent the article in question for an expertise to determine whether it was written by F.Allahverdiyev or not. Therefore he postponed the next hearing indefinitely.
The lawsuit stems from the article "Russia rejects Ilyas Ismayilov" published in "24 Saat" Newspaper on 28 May 2008. In the article, Ismayilov is accused of having relations with separatists and being a politician working under orders of Russia. I.Ismayilov demands that the journalist be arrested.