SPECIAL PLAINTIFFS FILE MOTION TO JOIN LAWSUITS FILED AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER IN ONE CONSIDERATION

Today, 11 May, in the Yasamal District Court, a hearing was held regarding three special format lawsuits filed against Assistance to the Defense of Democracy Public Union Chairman and human rights defender Vidadi Isgenderov.

During the hearing held on the lawsuit of Goychay region Police department Chief Vugar Memmedyarov, under the chairmanship of Judge Abbas Rzayev, special plaintiff’s representative Alirza Habilov filed a motion to accept all three lawsuits in one consideration because they are all related to the same article and to the same person.

V.Isgandarov said that the motion was unfounded.

The judge fulfilled the motion and issued a decision to join the lawsuit with other cases.

The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) notes that the judge did not give permission to IRFS employees to take pictures or film during the hearing.

The plaintiffs put forth similar motions during hearings held on the lawsuit of Goychay region Police department Chief Vugar Memmedyarov and on the lawsuit of Goychay Region Police Department Chief on Administrative Prosecutions Bakhtiyar Hashimov.

Decisions regarding these motions will be issued on 17 May.

The plaintiffs considered that V.Isgenderov slandered the plaintiffs in the article entitled “Police got a 3000 AZN bribe from me” published on 2 April in Azadlig newspaper and filed special format lawsuits against him under article 147.2 (slandering by accusing someone in grave or especially grave crimes) of the Criminal Code.