The hearing on the arrested Zerkalo newspaper correspondent Rauf Mirgadirov’s case continued with witness testimonies in Baku Grave Crimes Court on November 25. Judge Alisultan Osmanov presided over the hearing.   The hearing is being held behind closed doors on the judge’s order, and the lawyers and witnesses are required to sign a recognizance committing not to disclose any information about the proceedings.      

    On November 18, the Azerbaijani President’s Aide on Socio-Political Affairs, Ali Hasanov, gave an interview to Azerbaijan State Information Agency.   Declared that freedom of speech is guaranteed in Azerbaijan, Hasanov promised that the state will continue its efforts to strengthen media independence.   He shared his regret that some media outlets ‘abuse the conditions created for them’; in particular, he claimed, online