APPELATE COURT UPHOLDS DECISION ON RAMIZ MEHDIYEV’S LAWSUIT AGAINST KHURAL NEWSPAPER

On the 1st of September, in the Baku Appellate Court, under the chairmanship of judge Huseyn Khalilov, a court hearing was held on the appeal of the defendant against the decision passed by Narimanov District Court on July 2 regarding a lawsuit filed by the head of Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev against Khural newspaper.

The judge rejected all the motions filed by Khural newspaper editor-in-chief Avaz Zeynalli and upheld the decision of Narimanov District Court.

BACKGROUND

Mehdiyev’s lawsuit stemmed from the article entitled “Ramiz Mehdiyev’s plan against Bakhtiyar Vahabzade!!! Why did the Presidential Administration head punish people and the Executive Administration head of Shaki?” that was published in Khural newspaper on 23 May 2010. The plaintiff demanded that a refutation be published and 10,000 AZN in fines be paid in a transfer to the account of “Umid yeri” Children’s House in Bina settlement. The lawsuit was fulfilled on 2 July.

Khural newspaper was established in October 2002 and is published once a week.