Today (26 May) a court hearing on Apartment Exploitation Military Unit of the Defense Ministry soldier Mursalov Fardi Teyyub oglu’s lawsuit against “Gundalik Baku” was conducted in the Yasamal District Court under the chairmanship of Judge Khagani Tagiyev.
The plaintiff’s lawyer Shafiga Nagiyeva and father Teyyub Mursalov, and the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, defendant Habil Valiyev and his representative Uzeyir Jafarov participated in the hearing. U.Jafarov filed a motion to bring the soldier to the hearing. The judge denied this motion, noting the difficulty of getting a soldier to court.
After this, the judge recommended that the two sides reach a settlement. Nagiyeva said that only way here client would agree to this is if the newspaper publishes a refutation. However Valiyev said he has no intention of publishing a refutation.
“We can only express positions in our newspaper. If they agree to this, we can resolve this issue today,” said Valiyev.
Neither the plaintiff’s lawyer nor father agreed to this, emphasizing again they would only settle if a refutation is published.
Then the judge announced he would give time for the two sides to continue trying to reach a settlement.
The next hearing on this case has been scheduled for 5 June at 5 p.m.
Recall that soldier Mursalov Fardi, who serves in the Defense Ministry Apartment Exploitation Service Unit. This lawsuit stems from the article "Mehman Hajiyev's Illegal Actions" in which libellious information was allegedly published about F.Mursalov. According to the lawsuit, F.Mursalov and his parents were concerned after reading this article and decided to take this step. Mursalov is seeking the pulibcation of a refutation and the institution of a 50,000 AZN fine. “Gundalik Baki" newspaper chief editor Adil Huseynli told the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety, and that there's nothing libelous and defamatory in the article.