Editor-in-chief of Gundelik Baku newspaper may be imprisoned for two years

The Yasamal district court of Baku, presided by judge Tahir Ismaylov held a hearing on the claim of soldier of the housing and public service of the operation department of Defense Ministry Ali Yusifov against founder and editor-in-chief of Gundelik Baku newspaper Habil Veliyev, reports Day.Az with reference to the Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety.

Thus, the state prosecutor demanded a year and 10 months of imprisonment for the editor-in-chief.

During the hearing editor-in-chief's defender Mirzammed Rahimov announced that his defendant is not guilty and the criminal case, initiated against him, has been falsified. The defender asked to pass a verdict of not guilty on journalist's case.

The materials of the criminal case fix that editor-in-chief Habil Veliyev constructed a building for festivity houses on the territory, controlled by the Defense Ministry. On February 25 of this year the building was wrecked by soldiers of the housing and public service of the operation department under the Ministry. This resulted in a clash between Yusifov and Veliyev and editor-in-chief broke soldier's finger.

The journalist is accused under articles 188 (violation of the land property right) and 315.1 (use of force, resistance with use of force against a power representative, fulfilling his professional duty, or use of force that is not life-threatening, against his closest relatives, as well as the threat of using force) of the criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

/Day.Az/