The materials of the criminal case opened against journalist Parviz Hashimli is kept in the clerk’s office of the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, while he is being held under National Security Ministry’s custody, said his lawyer Elchin Sadigov in an interview with the Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) on February 17.
“We do not know which judge will consider the case. I contacted the Court. They said the case materials is in the clerk’s office, but have not been assigned to any judge. The Chairperson of the Court has yet to appoint a judge,” the lawyer added.
According to Sadigov, he is not allowed to meet the journalist, which he says is violation of their right to communicate. The lawyer was said he would be able to meet his client only after the judge is appointed.
Background: Bizim Yol newspaper journalist and moderator.az editor-in-chief Parviz Hashimli was detained on September 17th by employees of the Ministry of National Security. On September 18th the journalist was handed down a two-month pretrial detention sentence by the Sabail District Court under two articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code: Article 206.3.2 (smuggling of firearms on preliminary arrangement by an organized group) and 228.2.1 (illegal obtaining, storing, carrying firearms and their spare parts on preliminary arrangement by an organized group). His detention term was extended for another three months on November 7.