Today, 22 December, in the Yasamal District Court, under the Chairmanship of Judge Svetlana Ahmadova, a preliminary hearing was held on the lawsuit of Azerbaijan Beynalkhalg University Rector Elshad Abdullayev against "Gundalik Baki" Newspaper, Newspaper founder and Editor-in-chief Habil Valiyev and Assistant Editor-in-Chief Uzeyir Jafarov and newspaper employee Ilkin Huseynli.
The lawsuit was filed under articles 147 and 148 of the Criminal Code in the form of special accusation. U.Jafarov told this to the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety.
According to Jafarov, special plaintiff Elshad Abdullayev’s defense lawyer Gulhuseyn Adilov participated in the hearing. “We told the court that a lawsuit had already been filed on this case, this case was considered on 15 December by Judge Svetlana Ahmadova and the lawsuit was rejected,” said Jafarov. “We put forth a motion asking the court to open a criminal case against Elshad Abdullayev because he deceived the court and continued to file unfounded lawsuits against us.” Jafarov noted that the judge rejected the case in the end.
According to Jafarov, special plaintiff Elshad Abdullayev’s defense lawyer Gulhuseyn Adilov participated in the hearing. “We told the court that a lawsuit had already been filed on this case, this case was considered on 15 December by Judge Svetlana Ahmadova and the lawsuit was rejected,” said Jafarov. “We put forth a motion asking the court to open a criminal case against Elshad Abdullayev because he deceived the court and continued to file unfounded lawsuits against us.” Jafarov noted that the judge rejected the case in the end.
The lawsuit stems from articles titled "Where is Elshad Abdullayev" and "Elshad Abdullayev arrested his own nephew" that were published in "Gundalik Baki" newspaper's edition 194 and edition 218.
ABU Rector Elshad Abdullayev demanded again that Habil Valiyev, Uzeyir Jafarov and Ilkin Hasanli be found guilty under articles 147 and 148 of the Criminal Code and they be arrested, and each of the accused party pay 30,000 AZN in fines for moral damages, and the money be transferred to his own account.