22:31, 15 May 2007

In Azerbaijan journalists were not let to trial on Farkhad Aliev's case

Today, the Court for Grave Crimes, presided by Tofik Pashaev, has started preliminary consideration of the case of ex-Minister for Economic Development of Azerbaijan Farkhad Aliev, his brother Rafik Aliev and 18 more persons accused under different articles of the Criminal Code. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent for Azerbaijan reports that he was not let, like many other independent and opposition journalists, into the courtroom. Same refers also to representatives of the Embassies of the USA, Great Britain and the OSCE Office.

The refusal was motivated by the fact there were no vacant seats in the courtroom. At the same time, correspondents of TV Channels Lider, ATV and ANS, and correspondents of the ARA Agency were admitted to the court session.

All the seats in the courtroom were occupied by refugees and invalids who have nothing to do with the case in question.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent