COURT HEARING CONDUCTED ON LAWSUIT OF E. FATULLAYEV’S LAWYER AGAINST MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Today, in the Yasamal District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Sardar Mahraliyev, a hearing was conducting on Isakhan Ashurov’s (lawyer of imprisoned journalist Eynulla Fatullayev) lawsuit against Minister of Foreign Affairs Eldar Mammadyarov.

During the hearing, Ashurov defended his own lawsuit. Foreign Affairs Ministry Legal Department head Ramiz Aliyev and Legal Department Third Secretary Mikayil Yusifov represented the interests of the ministry. Aliyev and Yusifov claimed that Ashurov’s lawsuit was unfounded.

A criminal case was instituted against Gundalik Azerbayjan and Reanly Azerbayjan newspapers’ editor-in-chief Eynulla Fatullayev on the basis of an appeal that Mammadyarov made to the National Security Ministry. Mammadyarov stated that foreign citizens and business people were concerned about Fatullayev's article "The Aliyevs are Going to War" and appealed to him regarding this matter. Therefore, Ashurov, on behalf of Fatullayev, sent an information inquiry to Mammadyarov to reveal the names of people who he claimed were concerned. This inquiry was never responded to.

During today’s hearing, Ashurov put forth a motion to bring Mammadyarov to future hearings on this case, however this motion was denied.

Thw trial will continue on 24 November at 2 p.m.