Today, 21 October, in the Nasimi District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Ikram Shirinov, a hearing was conducted on the lawsuit of “Tolishi Sado” Newspaper Editor-in-chief N.Mammadov`s wife Maryam Mammadova and son Emil Mammadov against the Ministry of Finance, the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Services, Chief Medical Office of the Justice Ministry, Prison #15 and the Penitentiary Service’s Treatment Facility regarding the journalist’s death.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer Ramiz Mammadov said Mammadov’s glasses were taken from him and he was made sign the decision regarding the punishment.
“Novruzali Mammadov was told that it was an appeal written to the Chief to be provided with warm clothes,” said R.Mammadov. “After this Novruzali Mammadov signed the paper.”
The next hearing on this case is now scheduled to take place tomorrow, 22 October at 3:30 p.m.
“Tolishi Sado” Newspaper Editor-in-chief N.Mammadov died in the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Services’ Central Hospital on 17 August 2009. Mammadov was transferred to the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Services Central Hospital on 28 July 2009 after his health worsened. His relatives claim that he did not receive necessary treatment and as a result he died. In 2007, during a closed hearing, N.Mammadov was sentenced to ten year imprisonment under article 274 (treason) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic. However, N.Mammadov, who had Talysh nationality, did not consider himself guilty and claimed that his arrest was related to ethnic-political motives and freedom of speech.