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General Prosecutorâ€™s Office: Correspondent of Azadlig newspaper Agil Khalil, who attempted to leave Azerbaijan, prevented from airport

12 May 2008 15:47 (UTC +04:00)

-Correspondent of Azadlig newspaper Agil Khalil has recently given interviews to some media outlets saying that he was followed by unknown persons. He said he might be kidnapped and made to give testimonies under the influence of drugs. What can you say about it?
-I want to say that Agil Khalilov attempted to mislead the investigation by giving incorrect testimonies, but his attempts failed. Seeing that his failed illusions attributing the incident to his professional activity will be known to public soon, Agil Khalilov attempted to evade interrogation and trial by making groundless statements. Agil Khalilov violated the criminal procedural legislation on giving right testimony, he attempted to leave the country several times in order to evade the investigation, though his participation was necessary both during the preliminary and court investigation. Agil Khalil was detained when he attempted to leave for Turkey by Baku-Istanbul flight on May 10, 2008, when he attempted to leave for another country via Balaken region on May 11 at 09.15 and the same day at 10.00 when he attempted to leave via Zagatala region. By making groundless statements Agil Khalilov tries to distract the peopleâ€™s attention from the objective results of the investigation. All investigative actions are being carried out in the presence of Agil Khalilovâ€™s lawyer and in line with the requirements of the criminal procedural legislation.
His thoughts about driving him by unknown people and forcing him by illegal methods to give evidences are groundless and incorrect.
-What the necessity of Agil Khalilâ€™s participation in the preliminary interrogation relates to?
-I would like to notice that Agil Khalilâ€™s participation in the preliminary and court interrogation is necessary because if he will not attend this process it will prevent comprehensive, full and objective investigation, prolong interrogation and trial processes, violate the Article 6 of the Azerbaijan-joined Convention on Human Rights and Freedoms and threaten the fair court decision. I would like to add that considering that Agil Khalil is journalist, the prosecution office appealed the Council of Press, which control the journalistsâ€™ observation of professional principles within the existing standards and prevention of abusing the media name to prevent Agil Khalil from avoiding of interrogation and giving correct evidences.