Today the Baku Appeals Court heard Khural newspaper’s appeal against Narimanov District Court’s January 17 judgment. The original decision was upheld.
Executive Director of the Presidential Works Department Agabey Asgerov filed a libel lawsuit against “Khural” Editor-in-chief and correspondent Kamal Huseyn in August 2007, for the insult of his personal honor and dignity.
The case was based on three articles printed in July and August of 2007: “Publishing House Rakes it in”, “Azerbaijan’s Publishing House: where press goes to die”, and “Not ‘Azerbaijan Publishing House’ but ‘Azerbaijan factory’”. The articles reported legal violations committed by the director of “Azerbaijan” Publishing House. The plaintiff demanded an apology and a retraction by the newspaper, as well as a 250,000 AZN fine for the defendants. He also demanded that the two men be brought to criminal responsibility under Articles 147 and 148 (libel and insult) of the Criminal Code.
Narimanov District Court partially fulfilled the lawsuit and demanded the newspaper to publish a refutation and pay 1,000 AZN in compensation. Today’s process was prompted by the non-execution of the court decision by Zeynalli, who was issued with a formal warning.
After the hearing, Khural editor Avaz Zeynalli and his lawyer Elchin Sadigov told Objective TV that they would be filing an appeal against the decision.
The case was based on three articles printed in July and August of 2007: “Publishing House Rakes it in”, “Azerbaijan’s Publishing House: where press goes to die”, and “Not ‘Azerbaijan Publishing House’ but ‘Azerbaijan factory’”. The articles reported legal violations committed by the director of “Azerbaijan” Publishing House. The plaintiff demanded an apology and a retraction by the newspaper, as well as a 250,000 AZN fine for the defendants. He also demanded that the two men be brought to criminal responsibility under Articles 147 and 148 (libel and insult) of the Criminal Code.
Narimanov District Court partially fulfilled the lawsuit and demanded the newspaper to publish a refutation and pay 1,000 AZN in compensation. Today’s process was prompted by the non-execution of the court decision by Zeynalli, who was issued with a formal warning.
After the hearing, Khural editor Avaz Zeynalli and his lawyer Elchin Sadigov told Objective TV that they would be filing an appeal against the decision.