Yesterday, 10 March, in the Nasimi District Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Ikram Shirinov, a preliminary hearing was held on the lawsuit of Poligon information agency’s editor, former fourth year student of the State Oil Academy Elmin Badalov against the Rector of the Academy, Siyavush Garayev.

Plaintiff Elmin Bedelov and his representative, Media Rights Institute Lawyer Fariz Namazli, defense representatives - dean of the “Oil Mechanics” faculty Gasim Mammadov and defense attorney Ilgar Javadov participated in the hearing.
Ilgar Javadov filed a motion not to accept the lawsuit for consideration claiming that Siyavush Garayev’s street address was not given correctly in the lawsuit. The judge did not fulfill the motion and issued a decision to accept the lawsuit for consideration.
The next hearing on this case was scheduled for 29 March, at 3:00 p.m.
Elmin Bedelov was dismissed from the State Oil Academy on 19 January 2010. On 12 November 2009 Elmin Bedelov published an article on pia.az website (“Reportage from Azerbaijan State Oil Academy”) regarding bribe cases and financial frauds in the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. The student-journalist claims that pressure used against him and his failures are related to his article. On 17 February he appealed to the Nasimi District Court to restore his rights.