Today in the Grave Crimes Court under the chairmanship of Judge Rauf Aliyev a preliminary court hearing was conducted on the lawsuit put forth by National Deputy Ahad Ahmadov against "Azerbaijan Jumhuriyyeti" Newspaper founder Nusrat Rahimov, "Muhakime" Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Shamsi Mirzayev, and three other defendants –Panahov Rza, Muradov Zahid, and Muradov Zabil.
During the preliminary court hearing it became clear that other accused people are relatives of Ahad Ahmadov. The defendants said during the hearing that they weren't given the bill of indictment. The judge stated that they will get that today.
After explaining the rights and duties of both sides, the judge scheduled the next hearing for 4 June at 10:30 a.m.
The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety researching this case to find out whether the arrest of Nusrat Rahimov and Shamsi Mirzayev is justified. IRFS will presents it findings as they become available.
Recall that N.Rahimov was arrested by Internal Ministry Department to Fight Organized Crime while receiving a 1500,00 USD bribe from Ahad Ahadov to not publish articles about him. Later Shamsi Mirzayev and other people were involved in the investigation and arrested.