Yesterday, 2 November,, in the Baku Appellate Court under the chairmanship of judge Rasul Safarov, a preliminary hearing was held on “Azadlig” newspaper’s editor-in-chief Ganimat Zahid’s appeal from the decision of Azizbayov District Court, 17 September, 2009, to substitute in his prison term with lighter punishment.
This information was provided to Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety by the editor-in-chief’s lawyer, Elcin sadigov. According to E.Sadigov, the lawsuit regarding G.Zahid’s participation in the hearing process was not fulfilled and judge R.Safarov scheduled the next process for 9 November, 11.00.
Ganimat Zahid filed a lawsuit to serve the rest of his punishment in freedom since one third of his prison term is over. However, the Azizbayov District Court did not fulfill the lawsuit. Ganimat Zahid was convicted under articles 127.2.3 (hooliganism with intentional infliction of minor bodily harm) and 221 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code and imprisoned for four years.