The trial of Bizim Yol newspaper journalist Parviz Hashimli and his alleged accomplice Tavakkul Gurbanov continued on April 24 in Baku Court on Grave Crimes. Judge Novruz Karimov presided over the hearing.
Journalist’s lawyer Elchin Sadigov filed motions for questioning of some people as witnesses on the case, and for holding forensic exam to check whether weapons found in the apartment of the journalist were fit for use. “It appears from the investigation materials that these are Signal pistols which are produced for special services. They become suitable for shooting only after a piece of handwork is done on them. No test has been done regarding them during investigation and we want the pistols and grenades be examined for suitability for battle,” the lawyer said.
The judge said he would decide the motions in the following hearing.
Sevda Mammadova who was a circumstantial witness in Tavakkul Gurbanov’s apartment search gave testimony and said that she was forcibly taken to the apartment by her neighbor and saw the weapons there. She also added that Tavakkul Gurbanov himself handed the weapon over to the operatives.
During the process the journalist noted that the Minister of National Security Eldar Mahmudov was misinformed about him.
The hearing was adjourned till April 28.
Bizim Yol newspaper journalist and moderator.az editor-in-chief Parviz Hashimli was detained on September 17, by employees of the Ministry of National Security. Main Investigation Department of MNS launched a case against him with three articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code: Article 206.3.2 (smuggling of firearms on preliminary arrangement by an organized group), 228.2.1 (illegal purchase, transfer, selling, storage, transportation and carrying of firearms, their accessories, supplies and explosives by an organized group) and 228.2.2 (the same acts committed repeatedly).