The Bar in Azerbaijan is investigating the activities of a defender of the rights of journalists

The Bar of Azerbaijan started disciplinary proceedings concerning solicitor, lawyer of the Institute of Rights of Media Elchin Sadygov.

At a press conference in the office of the Institute of Freedom and Safety of Reporters (IFSR) on October, 10, Sadygov said that the reason for the investigation had been a complaint from a certain Bairam Aliev living in Mirzaaga Aliev street, 10, of Baku.

In particular, in his appeals to the Bar and the Ministry of National Security (MNS) he accuses Sadygov of "anti-state activities" which, in his opinion, manifests itself in Sadygov's "collusion" with foreign ambassadors and oppositional activists. According to Aliev's complaints, he has obtained "great financial resources and is carrying out a powerful propaganda against the Government".

"I do not know this person and have no information. He wrote in his appeal that with the help of foreign ambassadors and oppositional deputies I obtained great financial resources in order to assure Einulla Fatullaev's (former political prisoner - note by the "Caucasian Knot") becoming President of the country at the forthcoming election in 2013 and head the Bar myself. For the reason of this denunciation the Bar started considering my case", Sadygov said.

According to the lawyer, the management of the Bar demanded documents on his activities from him. But the contradicts the law "On the Bar and Advocacy". The law stipulates that information of the lawyer's work with his client is a client-lawyer privilege", Sadygov said calling all the accusations against him absurd. - This is a slander in keeping with the best traditions of the epoch of Stalinism".

The lawyer reported that he had been under pressure of security services and the Bar before in connection with his acting as an attorney of journalists Agil Khalil, Einulla Fatullaev and Ganimat Zakhidov.

"This April disciplinary proceedings were started against me, however later the complainant allegedly denied his report", the lawyer said.

The Bar confirmed the fact of investigation of Sadygov's activities but the term of considering the question of his disciplinary responsibility was not specified, he was just told that "investigation is in process". The officials of the Bar also refused to provide the complainant's contact information.

Public Relations Centre of MNS withheld comments explaining that no information was available.

Local human rights activists see political motives in the case of lawyer Sadygov. In the opinion of Rasul Jafarov, Coordinator of Human Rights Club, Sadygov is a representative of the new generation of lawyers who in spite of their young age, acquired a reputation of professional and principled lawyers. "Thanks to their expert knowledge and efficient tactics of building up defense, accusations against persons prosecuted on political grounds, falsity of the charges becomes evident which puts problems before the courts", Jafarov thinks.

"These lawyers are a trouble for the authorities who just wish to suspend them from office. Young lawyers Khalid Bagirov and Elchin Namazov have already been punished. Now it is probably Elchin Sadygov's turn", Jafarov said.

Sadygov has represented journalists in many high profile cases. He formerly defended the rights of arrested journalists Ganimat Zakhidov (Editor-in-Chief of "Azadlyg" newspaper) and Einulla Fatullaev (constitutor and Editor-in-Chief of newspapers "Real Azerbaijan" and "Gundelik Azerbaijan") as well as Agil Khalil who repeatedly underwent violence and treats (reporter of "Azadlyg" newspaper who later emigrated to France because of a danger to his life).

Sadygov presently defends the rights of Idrak Abbasov, correspondent of "Aina"- "Zerkalo" newspaper and reporter of the Institute of Freedom and Safety of Reporters (IFSR) in connection with threats and accusing the journalist of traffic infringement.