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Alert

Court rejects journalist’s lawsuit

(IRFS/IFEX) - On 17 June 2009, the Nasimi District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Ikram Shirinov, issued a decision on Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) chairman Emin Huseynov’s lawsuit against the Ministry of the Interior, the Nasimi District Police Department and the Nasimi District Police Department Office #22 for "subjection to pressure."

Huseynov’s lawyer, Media Rights Institute representative Elchin Sadigov and the lawyer for the Nasimi district police, Mezahir Shahbarov, participated in the hearing. A representative from the Ministry of the Interior was not present.

Judge Shirinov decided to reject Huseynov’s lawsuit.

Huseynov told IRFS that he will appeal the decision adopted by Judge Shirinov.

On 14 June 2008, a group of fans of Cuban revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevera was trying to conduct an event in the "Alaturka" Restaurant when law enforcement agency employees interfered. Huseynov, who was observing and filming the event, was beaten by Police Department #22 officers. He lost consciousness as a result of the beating and received treatment for more than twenty days in the hospital. In his lawsuit, Huseynov said that he was wrongfully detained by the police and subjected to physical and psychological pressure, as a result of which his health was damaged. He was seeking 50,000 AZN (approx. US$62,000) in compensation from each of the defendants.