Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice rejects political background of confiscation of property of newspaper "Khural"

The property of the newspaper "Khural" was confiscated due to editors' failure to fulfil the court holdings on hip of judgments in civil lawsuits against the newspaper. This was declared by the official announcement of the Ministry of Justice, which was released today.

Avaz Zeinally, editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Khural", believes that the bailiffs "received a political order caused by increased publication frequency of the newspaper".

However, the Ministry of Justice rejects the political background in this matter and claims that the editors avoided payments of pecuniary compensation by three lost lawsuits. Therefore, in accordance with the law, the bailiffs completed the inventory of the property belonging to the newspaper, the Ministry of Justice stated.

The official announcement of the Ministry of Justice also considers Avaz Zeinally's statements about pressure on the media as false. The Ministry of Justice claims "successful activities and development of the media and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan".

At the same time, the Ministry accuses the newspaper "Khural" in "abuse of freedom of speech". For systematic violation of the journalistic ethics, abuse of honour and dignity of the state and public figures, and workers of art, the Media Council put the newspaper "Khural" in the 'black list'. According to official information, throughout the last three years only, a number of lawsuits had been filed against the newspaper; the six lawsuits resulted in bringing the newspaper to "civil, administrative and criminal liability".

Issue of the newspaper "Khural" of October 21 was not released

Following the confiscation of the newspaper' property in the evening of October 19, its new issue was not released today.

"After the confiscation of our property, including computers, in the evening of October 19, we managed to prepare the next issue with the help of the laptops provided by our friends, and a regular issue of our newspaper was released on October 20. However, last night printing house "Express" refused to print the newspaper "Khural", and Friday issue of the newspaper failed to be released. In this case, the printing house gave reasons for its rejection," said Avaz Zeinally, the newspaper's editor-in-chief.

In his view, the printing house refused to print the newspaper due to pressure from the authorities.

The printing house belongs to the Holding "Nurgyun Motors". Avaz Zeinally contacted Mushfig Safiev, Vice-President of the Holding. The latter announced the refusal of the printing house "Express" to print and to cooperate with the newspaper "Khural". Comments of the printing house the Holding are not available.

Avaz Zeinally intends to negotiate on printing of the newspaper with other printing houses.