Imprisoned journalist Teymur Karimov, head of “Kanal 11” internet television, has raised concerns about the fairness of his trial at the Baku Serious Crimes Court.
On October 23, Karimov and his lawyer filed formal objections to the panel of judges, led by Azad Majidov, accusing them of bias and rejecting defense petitions without proper consideration.
Karimov, in custody since December 2023, is charged with extortion under Article 182 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. He and co-defendant Istek Totiyev are accused of demanding money in exchange for not releasing video footage, with the prosecution claiming they received 1,000 AZN after initially requesting 10,000 AZN. The journalist denies the charges, stating that they are connected to his reporting on illegal activities.
Karimov’s lawyer, Nemat Karimli, also expressed concerns about the court’s handling of the case, accusing the presiding judge of influencing witness testimony during the trial. The defense’s objections, including a request for time to file a petition for a psychiatric evaluation of the alleged victim, were denied.
The court has postponed the trial until November 4, while Karimov continues to maintain his innocence, arguing that the charges are an attempt to silence his journalistic work.
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