Over 100 lawsuits against media initiated in Azerbaijan in 2007

According to the report, over 100 lawsuits have been instituted against media since January of this year with 2 of them withdrawn .

"The claims against printed medias were mostly filed by senior officials. 9 press criticists were detained in 2007, with 2 of them sentenced to correctional works, Rafig Tagi and Samir Sadatoglu imprisoned for kindling interreligious discords, Mushfig Guseynov accused for bribery, Ganimat Zahid for hooliganism. 5 reporters were charges on basis of article 147 (libel) of the Criminal Code", a statement from the Institute says.

On the whole, through 2007 the plaintiffs have demanded a compensation in the amount of 12,460,684 AZN from the reporters and press. On basis of the claims, the judicial instances of the country imposed a fine in the amount of 942,399 AZN on the mass medias and their representatives.

According to the statement, the number of claims filed in 2005 was by 10 times lower as compared to 2007.

/Day.Az/