Editor-in-Chief of “Khural” newspaper Avaz Zeinalov rejected participation in the trial on his case

During a session of the court of Baku for especially grave crimes on the case of Editor-in-Chief of “Khural” newspaper Avaz Zeinalov the defendant declared that he was not going to participate in the trial any longer for the reason of violation of his rights and undergoing unlawful prosecution.

Zeinalov was arrested on October, 28, 2011, for suspicion of bribe-taking. The complaint was submitted by Giulyar Ahmedova, deputy of the Parliament of that time. Three more persons also submitted statements of active bribery to the journalist to the Department of Struggle against Corruption.

During the trial on January, 16, Avaz Zeinalov declared once again that he was arrested upon an order of Head of the President’s Administration Ramiz Mehtiev and Giulyar Ahmedova was used for forgery of the criminal case.

Zeinalov entered a motion to punish investigator Gabil Gasymov who “forged the evidence” against him during preliminary inquiry.

Public Prosecutor Ramazan Hkadyev objected and the judge dismissed the motion.

Zeinalov flung the Code of Criminal Procedure at the Public Prosecutor in protest saying: “You defy these laws. I do not believe in justice of the court. You will pronounce the verdict ordered all the same, so do it without my participation”.

Then a break was announced after which the secretary of the court said that the trial was suspended indefinitely.