Azerbaijan, Baku / Т corr I. Alizadeh / The criminal proceedings at the Baku City Yasamal District Court presided by Judge Abbas Rzayev regarding the lawsuit initiated by a correspondent of Azerbaijani Public Television to Khanlar region, Amina Rahimova, was postponed on 7 August for an indefinite period, the attorney of the accused persons, Elchin Sadigov, reported on 7 August.
The trial was scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in which the plaintiff demands that the Chief Editor of Azerbaijani Mukhalifat newspaper, Rovshan Kabirli, and a department head of the newspaper, Yashar Aghazadeh be made answerable for their actions.
The attorney noted that the trial was postponed due to repair work being carried out in the court. "It was reported at the court that the date would be re-scheduled next week," the attorney said.
Rahimova demands that the journalists be answerable for contravening Article 147.1 (slander) of the Criminal Code. The Article stipulates 1? years imprisonment as punishment. 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 to be 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 published the article in the Mukhalifat.
Rahimova accuses the journalists of slander and the defence considers the accusations to be groundless.
Rovshan Kabirli and Yashar Agazadeh were sentenced to 2 ? years imprisonment on the basis of the MP Jalal Aliyev's lawsuit accusing them of slander and offence.