13:00, 19 March 2013

In Azerbaijan, heads of MIA and MfE wave their claims to "Azadlyg" editor-in-chief

The Ministers of Internal Affairs and for Emergencies of Azerbaijan have given up their lawsuits against Ganimat Zakhid, the editor-in-chief of the opposition newspaper "Azadlyg".

The Ministers' lawsuits were considered on March 18 in Baku by the Yasamal District Court. At both trials, Alirza Abilov, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said that the ministers decided to recall their lawsuits.

At the same time, as Mr Abilov has added, his clients had taken into account the refutation and the apology published by the newspaper, and the address of the Press Council to the ministers asking to refuse to prosecute the journalist. The judges have announced the termination of criminal proceedings against Zakhid.

Rakhim Gadjiev, first deputy editor-in-chief of "Azadlyg", welcomed "the exhaustion of the incident." However, he stressed that the incident will have no affect on the position of the newspaper "Azadlyg"; and it will continue criticizing negative things in the work of the government and individual officials.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent