> Both of the Radio’s appeals were denied;
> ANS’s leadership raised an objection to jury composition.
On 5 April, the Supreme Court chaired by Judge Kamaladdin Badalov held a hearing on a legal appeal seek to revoke and invalidate the decision to cancel ANS CM radio station’s license, ANS’s lawyers have reported.
At the hearing, the lawyers defending ANS’s rights asked the jury to review the rulings issued in respect of ANS at the stage of appeals. The appeal relating to non-financial damages of AZN 1 million and material damages of AZN 210,191 claimed to be suffered as a result of shutting down ANS radio’s broadcast by the National TV and Radio Council (NTRC) was rejected by the court.
The appeal related to allowing ANS Commerce advertising company to join the case as a third party that has suffered damages as a result of the cessation of ANS Radio’s broadcast was also dismissed.
After that, ANS’s leadership raised an objection to jury composition and demanded that it be changed. ANS’s lawyers Fuad Agayev and Sevda Maharramova prepared a written objection in that regard and presented it to the court. The judge postponed the proceedings indefinitely, saying that the objection would be passed to the chairman of the Supreme Court.
Recall that, the reason for the closure of ANS television and radio stations was ANS reporter’s interview with Fetullah Gulen who is accused of a coup attempt in Turkey. The special permit (license) granted to ANS CM was terminated at NTRC’s meeting on 18 July 2016, followed by suspension of ANS Independent Broadcasting and Media Company’s broadcast for a period of one month and an appeal to the court to cancel its license. The NTRC’s appeal was granted. ANS’s appeals against that decision were denied by courts.
ANS is the first private television channel in the country and had been operating since 26 November 1991.