On August 24th, based on the assessment of the Bar of Lawyers’ Discipline Commission, the Bar decided to suspend Khalid Bagirov from practising for a period of one year. Bagirov is a lawyer employed at law consulting office #6.
Lawyer Khalid Bagirov told IRFS today (25 August) that the meeting of the Bar of Lawyers was held without him there. This decision comes hot on the heels on the appeal of Baku City General Police Office Chief Rafig Abbasov.
“As you know, I defended rights of Elvin Asgarov, who was allegedly beaten to death by the employees of Police Department # 25 of Nizami District Police Office on January 13th, 2011. The Chief of Baku City General Police Office, Rafig Abbasov, claimed in his appeal to the Bar of Lawyers that I libeled police employees, and demanded that I be punished,” said Bagirov.
BACKGROUND
Baku City Police Office Chief Rafig Abbasov filed a lawsuit against Bizim Yol reporter Haji Zeynalov and lawyer Khalid Bagirov under Article 147.2 (libeling a person with a grave crime). He cites the March 1 2011 articles by Haji Zeynalov: “Those arrested need a baton rather than a lawyer” and “Lawyer Khalid Bagirov offers to hold protests with this slogan,” claiming that the articles were slanderous. According to him, in the second article, the author claims that citizen Elvin Asgarov was beaten to death at Police station #25 of Nizami District Police Office. The Yasamal District Court cited the plaintiff’s absence from the hearing without a sanctioned excuse, and the lack of a warrant of attorney on the part of the plaintiff’s attorney. The Judge ruled to reject the lawsuit.
“As you know, I defended rights of Elvin Asgarov, who was allegedly beaten to death by the employees of Police Department # 25 of Nizami District Police Office on January 13th, 2011. The Chief of Baku City General Police Office, Rafig Abbasov, claimed in his appeal to the Bar of Lawyers that I libeled police employees, and demanded that I be punished,” said Bagirov.
BACKGROUND
Baku City Police Office Chief Rafig Abbasov filed a lawsuit against Bizim Yol reporter Haji Zeynalov and lawyer Khalid Bagirov under Article 147.2 (libeling a person with a grave crime). He cites the March 1 2011 articles by Haji Zeynalov: “Those arrested need a baton rather than a lawyer” and “Lawyer Khalid Bagirov offers to hold protests with this slogan,” claiming that the articles were slanderous. According to him, in the second article, the author claims that citizen Elvin Asgarov was beaten to death at Police station #25 of Nizami District Police Office. The Yasamal District Court cited the plaintiff’s absence from the hearing without a sanctioned excuse, and the lack of a warrant of attorney on the part of the plaintiff’s attorney. The Judge ruled to reject the lawsuit.