Azerbaijan: journalist Fatullaev asks to attract an independent SAP

On May 19, the Garadag District Court of Baku continued the trial on the new case of the earlier convicted journalist Einullah Fatullaev, this time accused of illegal drug storage. At the trial, the defendant asked to invite Gusein Guseinov, an independent SAP (substance abuse professional), as the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The journalist said that he had learned from his lawyers he knew that Guseinov was threatened and told not to go to the trial. Fatullaev also reminded that unknown persons had threatened his father, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) would not investigate the complaint.

"All this is another evidence that mafia is against me. In every possible way they try to keep me behind bars, not to let me continue my journalistic investigation of the murder of Elmar Guseinov, editor-in-chief of the magazine "Monitor", and my professional journalistic activities at all," said Mr Fatullaev.

He also reminded about his earlier journalistic investigation into the murder of Rena Nasibova. "At the trial on the case of Gadji Mamedov's gangster grouping it became known that she was assassinated, although earlier the investigation had asserted that she died from drug abuse," said Fatullaev. He expressed fears that he may "follow Nasibova's fate."

In this context, Fatullaev asked the judge to add his journalistic investigation on Nasibova's case to the materials of this case.

He also suggested running audio and video recording of the trial, as some mass media were distorting his words; later it could be used against him.

In his turn, Judge Ismail Khalilov offered, after noting that four experts had been invited, first to listen to all of them and already then, "if necessary, to invite expert Guseinov."

However, Fatullaev and his advocate Isakhan Ashurov objected saying that they needed time to get ready for experts' statements.

State Accuser Elchin Nagiev spoke against invitation of the independent expert Guseinov and challenged his objectivity.

Later, the trial listened to a defence witness - inmate Anar Namazov (nephew of ex-Minister of Public Health Ali Insanov, also imprisoned, - comment of the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent). He said that he had never seen Fatullaev earlier in the condition of narcotic intoxication. Prior Fatullaev was searched, Namazov was close to him; however, the investigation did not take his evidences.

The litigation will continue on May 26 at 11:00 a.m.