In Azerbaijan, TV Channels deny their participation in journalist's discrediting campaign

On July 23, the Yasamal District Court of Baku, presided by Judge Khagani Tagiev, continued considering the claim lodged by Agil Halil, journalist of the "Azadlyg" (Freedom) newspaper against TV Channels AZTV, Space, ATV, Lider, and against inspector of State Office of Public Prosecutor Ali Guliev. The TV Channels deny their guilt.

The claim was lodged after demonstration on April 7 by these TV Channels of a program prepared by the Investigatory Group of the State Office of Public Prosecutor. The program dealt with Halil's ties with homosexuals; one of them allegedly wounded Halil on March 13. The TV program refuted any political context of attack on journalist.

On July 23, Elchin Sadygov, journalist's advocate, explained to the court why the TV Channels had broken Halil's rights and asked to satisfy the claim.

"The TV Channels had no right to put the staff provided by the prosecutor's office on air without a respective court decision. It is a violation of the law on mass media," the lawyer has emphasized.

In their turn, spokesmen of TV Channels Space and Lider have declared that the claim "was unreasonable". Representatives of other channels and of the prosecutor's office failed to appear in the courtroom. The court made a decision to continue its session on July 30, at 5:00 p.m.

In his claim Halil demands to get apologies from the respondents and moral compensation at a rate of 100,000 manats (about 119,000 US dollars) and to get access to TV audience for response.