Azerbaijan, Baku / Тrend corr I. Alizadeh / On 7 August at 12.00 p.m. the Baku City Yasamal District Court will consider the lawsuit by correspondent of the Azerbaijani Public Television company to Khanlar region, Amina Rahimova, against the arrested journalists of the Mukhalifat newspaper, the Chief Editor, Rovshan Kabirli, and the Departmental head, Yashar Aghazadeh.
Rahimova has demanded that the journalists be answerable for contravening Article 147.1 (slander) of the Criminal Code. The Article stipulates 1 ? years imprisonment. Rahimova also initiated a civil lawsuit demanding AZN 50,000 for material and moral damage.
On 18 April, the Criminal World newspaper published an article 'Debauchery Hotbed in Shyr-Shyr Restaurant of Khanlar Region' with reference to the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry. The article listed Amina Rahimova amongst the persons detained in the restaurant. The information was also published in the Muhakima newspaper owned by Yashar Aghzadeh on 19 April. After several days Kabirli once again published the article in the Mukhalifat.
Rahimova has accused the journalist of slander. The defence considers the accusations to be groundless.
Rovshan Kebirly and Yashar Agazade were sentenced to 2 ? years imprisonment on the basis of the MP Jalal Aliyev's lawsuit accusing them of slander and offence.