Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr. K.Zarbaliyeva / Ramil Usubov, the Azerbaijani Interior Minister, stated on 31 May that the criminal case against the policeman, regardless of his position, will be instituted if the beating of Uzeyir Jafarov, the editor of the Gundalik Azerbaijan newspaper by the policeman is proved.
"Jafarov has a right to testify during the investigation. He must testify regarding his suspicions of the policeman," the Minister added.
In Azerbaijan law, a person cannot be instituted to a criminal proceeding with evidence coming from one sole witness on threat and pressure; forensic evidence and fact must be investigated.
There is no danger to journalists in Azerbaijan and their safety and security has always been a focus of the State's attention.