Azerbaijan imposes large fine on oppositional newspaper "Azadlyg"

On October 22, the Yasamal District Court of Baku granted the lawsuit, filed by Kyabira Mamedova, the owner of the largest wholesale and retail trade and shopping centre of Baku "Bina", against the opposition newspaper "Azadlyg" and its reporter Ramin Deko. The Court obliged the edition to pay a fine and publish a retraction. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Fariz Namazly, the lawyer of the newspaper.

In accordance with the decision of the Court, to compensate moral damages, the newspaper is to pay 30,000 manats (about 30,000 euros), and the reporter 2000 manats (about 2000 euros). Kyabira Mamedov demanded from each defendant 50,000 manats (about 50,000 euros) and reported that she would transfer the money to the House for elderly mental patients in the village of Buzovna.

The Court also obliged the newspaper to publish a retraction and to offer an apology to Kyabira Mamedova.

The reason for the lawsuit was the article, published in the numbers of the newspaper "Azadlyg" for this July 7-8 and July 9 and entitled "Operation 'Eurovision' of Kyabira Mamedova". The articles stated that after the song contest "Eurovision 2012", Kyabira Mamedova requested that each tenant of the shopping centre "Bina" should pay 5000 manats (about 5000 euros). According to the newspaper, Kyabira Mamedova motivated the request by the fact that the shopping centre bore large expenses in connection with the financing of the song contest "Eurovision".

The author of the articles, referring to unnamed sources among market traders, pointed to exorbitant rates for rental of stores at the shopping centre "Bina", overrated charges for the use of electricity and other unofficial payments.

However, Kyabira Mamedova expressed her disagreement with the articles and considered that they caused damage to business reputation of the shopping centre and her personal image.