Today, 4 February, in the Supreme Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Islam Aliyev, a hearing was held on the cassation complaint of “Azadlig” Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Ganimat Zahid and his defense lawyer Elchin Sadigov against inactivity of high-ranking officials. E. Sadigov told this to the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety.
“Last year, in September, I was not permitted to visit Ganimat Zahid,” said Sadigov. “The Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Services stated that for this meeting we should receive permission from the chief of the prison where Ganimat Zahid is being held. This demand was illegal and therefore we appealed to court. However, neither first instance court nor the Appellate Court fulfilled our lawsuit. The Appellate Court fulfilled our lawsuit only partially. The judge sent my lawsuit to the Appellate Court to be reconsidered, but returned Ganimat’s lawsuit.”
I will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights as soon as I receive the decision of the Supreme Court, added Sadigov.
Ganimat Zahid was convicted under articles 127.2.3 (hooliganism with intentional infliction of minor bodily harm) and 221 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code and imprisoned for four years. The charges against Zahid are widely regarded as spurious.
I will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights as soon as I receive the decision of the Supreme Court, added Sadigov.
Ganimat Zahid was convicted under articles 127.2.3 (hooliganism with intentional infliction of minor bodily harm) and 221 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code and imprisoned for four years. The charges against Zahid are widely regarded as spurious.