Today, 17 August, in the Narimanov District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Arif Ismayilov, a hearing was held on the civil lawsuit of Human Rights Defender, Azerbaijan Committee against Torture Chairman Elchin Behbudov against “Milletim” Newspaper Editor-in-chief Faramaz Novruzoglu.
Plaintiff Elchin Behbudov and his representative Samad Aliyev, and defendant Faramaz Novruzoglu participated in the hearing.
Plaintiff’s lawyer Samad Aliyev submitted the written appeal of Eldar Jabbarov, prisoner at Gobustan Closed Prison, to the court. It was noted in the appeal that E.Behbudov did not receive a bribe from him. F.Novruzoglu said that the appeal cannot be considered evidence.
Then the judge declared that the trial was over and asked the parties to make final speeches. Defendant’s representative S.Aliyev said that libel and insult were used against E.Behbudov in the articles in question and demanded that the lawsuit be fulfilled.
F.Novruzoglu said that he did not commit libel or insult in his articles and is ready to publish a refutation for one of the articles only.
“Elchin Behbudov stated that he was not subjected to physical pressure in prison #1; therefore, I will publish a refutation for this article,” said F.Novruzoglu.
The judge scheduled the last hearing to announce the verdict for 19 August at 10:15 a.m.
Elchin Behbudov filed a lawsuit in civil format against F.Novruzoglu due to series of articles about criminal cases in prisons and concealing of these cases by human rights defenders in “Milletim” newspaper and demanded that the editor-in-chief publish a refutation and pay 100 000 AZN in fines.
Plaintiff’s lawyer Samad Aliyev submitted the written appeal of Eldar Jabbarov, prisoner at Gobustan Closed Prison, to the court. It was noted in the appeal that E.Behbudov did not receive a bribe from him. F.Novruzoglu said that the appeal cannot be considered evidence.
Then the judge declared that the trial was over and asked the parties to make final speeches. Defendant’s representative S.Aliyev said that libel and insult were used against E.Behbudov in the articles in question and demanded that the lawsuit be fulfilled.
F.Novruzoglu said that he did not commit libel or insult in his articles and is ready to publish a refutation for one of the articles only.
“Elchin Behbudov stated that he was not subjected to physical pressure in prison #1; therefore, I will publish a refutation for this article,” said F.Novruzoglu.
The judge scheduled the last hearing to announce the verdict for 19 August at 10:15 a.m.
Elchin Behbudov filed a lawsuit in civil format against F.Novruzoglu due to series of articles about criminal cases in prisons and concealing of these cases by human rights defenders in “Milletim” newspaper and demanded that the editor-in-chief publish a refutation and pay 100 000 AZN in fines.