11:06, 20 May 2008

In Azerbaijan, journalist Agyl Khalil sues frontier guards

Agyl Khalil (Agil Halil), a correspondent of the "Azadlyg" newspaper, has lodged a suit against the State Frontier Service, State Office of Public Prosecutor and Investigatory Department for Grave Crimes under the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan. The journalist finds the ban on his departure from the country to be illegal and demands granting him an opportunity to freely leave Azerbaijan and to get reimbursed for his broken rights.

Elchin Sadygov, journalist's advocate, has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that it is not known so far whether the court has taken the case to consideration.

Mr Sadygov has reminded that on May 10 the journalist was not allowed to make a Baku-Istanbul flight from Azerbaijan and on May 11 he was twice prohibited to get to Georgia across the western border of Azerbaijan.

On May 14, Agyl Khalil gave his evidences at the Investigatory Department for Grave Crimes under the State Office of Public Prosecutor of Azerbaijan. Azer Ahmedov, Director General of the newspaper, has reported that they tried to force Agyl to sign the recognizance not to leave, but he refused.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent