Main Organized Crime Department confirms journalist Shirin Abbasov never waived his right to a lawyer
The Interior Ministry’s Main Organized Crime Department (MOCD) confirmed that Shirin Abbasov, a journalist with Meydan TV, did not waive his right to a lawyer of his choice at the time of detention, said Elchin Sadigov on November 17.
The lawyer noted that he had received a response to his letter to the MOCD. The response letter states that, “Shirin Abbasov was detained for interfering with the work of the police in an operation conducted by the Department on September 16. Shirin Abbasov admitted his action and was sentenced to 30-day imprisonment by a court decision. From the moment of detention, Shirin Abbasov was provided with a lawyer appointed by the state. At the same time, Abbasov did not waive his right to other lawyers.”
On September 17, lawyer Elchin Sadigov went to MOCD to meet with Abbasov, but was told at the MOCD that Abbasov waived his right to a lawyer of his choosing.
Abbasov told Sadigov that he never saw his state-appointed lawyer after his arrest, and never waived his right to legal services from Sadigov.
Background: Shirin Abbasov, a journalist cooperating with Meydan TV, was sentenced to 30-day period of administrative imprisonment on September 17, on charges of resisting police. His appeal against the court decision was denied on October 12.