24 July 2008, 11:38
In Azerbaijan, journalist beaten by police files a suit against MIA
Emin Guseinov, head of the Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS) has addressed the Nasiminskiy District Court of Baku with a statement of claim against the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Azerbaijan and a local police on the fact of his beating on June 14 this year.
Mr Guseinov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that he asked the court to punish the persons who had encroached on his professional journalistic rights in the process of covering the rally of supporters of Che Guevara, and who brought him later to the police station. He also wants to punish those who were beating him at the 22nd police station of the Nasiminskiy District.
The claimant asked for physical and moral compensation from the respondents in the total sum of 150,000 manats (about 180,000 US dollars).
According to Guseinov, in spite of the fact that more than a month has passed after those events, until now "no legal steps have been taken to investigate the incident, and no criminal case was opened"; besides, he was not acquainted with the results of medical examination.
Author: Faik Medzhid, CK correspondent
