In Azerbaijan, court rejects journalist's claim against MIA

On June 17, the Nasimin District Court of Baku, presided by Judge Ikram Shirinov, put a full stop in the trial on the claim lodged by Emin Guseinov, Director of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) against the police of Azerbaijan. The Judge found no grounds to satisfy the claim.

The journalist had moved his claim against the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan, Nasimin District Police Department and police station No. 22 of this Department.

The head the IRFS demanded to punish those who had beaten journalist Guseinov, according to his story, on June 14, 2008, in police station No. 22, where he was delivered together with the members of Che Guevara Club.

In the course of the trial, representatives of the respondents denied the fact of violence against the journalist.

In its turn, the claimant's defence insisted that an official inquiry should be sent to the city first aid station, the doctor's crew from which had hospitalized Guseinov in the state of unconsciousness. Elchin Sadygov, the journalist's advocate, said that although ambulance doctors ascertained Guseinov's brain injury, at hospital he was later diagnosed a "neurasthenic reaction".

Judge Shirinov made a conclusion about the absence of grounds to satisfy the claim. The claimant promised to file an appeal complaint against this decision. "The judicial investigation was biased. The court took the side of the police," said Mr Guseinov in conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Elchin Sadygov, advocate of the head of the IRFS, has also stated an unfair consideration of the case. According to his story, from the very beginning the litigation was held with "violation of remedial norms."

The press service of the MIA refused to make any comments, having referred to absence of information about the trial. No comments were also given by the Nasimin District Police Department and police station No. 22 of this Department, where a traditional response was given: "Address the MIA's press service."