In Azerbaijan, convicted journalist suits MFA head

Einullah Fatullaev, founder and editor-in-chief of the newspapers "Real Azerbaijan" and "Gyundelik Azerbaijan", who is in prison, went to law against Elmar Mamedyarov, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan. The journalist's complaint was caused by the latter's refusal to answer his request.

Isakhan Ashurov, Fatullaev's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the hearing on this case will take place on November 20 by the Yasamal District Court under the presidency of Judge Fardy Mekhraliev.

Mr Ashurov has reminded that the criminal case against Fatullaev was initiated by the Ministry of National Security based on the application lodged by Elmar Mamedyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The latter's statement ran that the article "Alievs Go to War" published in spring of 2007 ran about a terrorist threat, which had caused alarm in employees of foreign embassies and companies in Azerbaijan, and in foreign citizens and businessmen.

In his turn, Mr Fatullaev has addressed the MFA with an official request to disclose who personally had been worried by his article.

In his turn, Khazar Ibragim, head of the press service of the Azerbaijani MFA, said, when asked to comment on Fatullaev's suit against Mamedyarov, that "answers were given to all the requests of Einullah Fatullaev's advocate."