Prosecutor's Office of Baku rejects reconciliation with journalist Fatullaev

Today, the Sabail District Court of Baku, chaired by Elnur Gasanov, held a preparatory session on the claim of the convicted journalist Einullah Fatullaev against the Baku City Prosecutor's Office.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that the journalist asks the court to recognize violation of his presumption of innocence in the statement of the prosecutor's office of Baku of February 2 this year, which reported about his drug-dealing crime, and, in particular, about his illegal storage and use of heroin in Colony No. 12, where he served his prison term.

Fatullaev also petitioned to allow journalists making photo and video recording of the trial.

In this context, the judge said that "it was a preparatory session; therefore, there's no need to make any filming." However, during the court sessions filming will be allowed.

Then, the judge offered the parties to reconcile.

Fatullaev said that he was not against reconciliation, if the prosecutor's office would apologize. "The general public prosecutor himself labelled me as 'terrorist' and 'drug addict'," he said.

As to his claim of compensation in the sum of 1 manat (1.2 US dollars), Fatullaev said that it was a symbolical sum "to set an example for bureaucrats, who claim huge compensations from journalists."

However, Ramiz Rzaev, head of the PR division of the Baku prosecutor's office, rejected the reconciliation offer. He treated the claim as groundless and said that "it will be proved" during the trial.

The judge appointed the hearings on October 7 at 3:30 p.m.