In Azerbaijan, five judges jointly sought the arrest of a citizen over statements he made about them. The 63-year-old Hikmat Shukurov was also ordered to pay compensation of 10,000 manats to each judge.
The chair of the Shirvan Court of Appeal, Vali Abdullayev, and judge of the same court, Elchin Khasmammadov; the chair of the Masalli District Court, Firdovsi Aliyev, and judge of that court, Elshan Huseynov; as well as Judge Jeyhun Mustafayev of the Shirvan City Court, jointly filed a private prosecution claim. They alleged that H. Shukurov, a resident of Masalli, insulted them and slandered them by accusing them of taking bribes in comments he posted on social media.
Relying on Articles 147.2 (defamation by accusing a person of committing a serious crime) and 148 (insult) of the Criminal Code, the judges sought Shukurov’s punishment. They demanded compensation of 50,000 manats each, totaling 250,000 manats.
In a recent ruling by the Binagadi District Court, the judges’ complaint led to a two-year prison sentence for Shukurov. The civil claim was partially upheld, and he was ordered to pay 50,000 manats in compensation to the judges.
Shukurov, however, does not consider himself guilty.