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Viewing cable 08BAKU596, UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BAKU596 2008-06-24 13:30 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Baku
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0596 1761330
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241330Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5553
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 2866
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0987
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BAKU 000596 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EUR/CARC AND DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AJ
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TWO HUMAN RIGHTS CASES: KHALIL AND 
HUSYENOV BEATINGS 
 
REF: A. BAKU 00582 
     B. BAKU 00557 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
1.  (SBU) The GOAJ continues to maintain that opposition 
Azadliq newspaper reporter Agil Khalil was stabbed by Sergey 
Strekhalin in a homosexual lovers, quarrel.  Strekhalin, who 
faces criminal assault and narcotics charges, was scheduled 
to be tried June 24 in a Baku municipal court (Nasimi 
district), but the presiding judge delayed the trial at the 
request of the Prosecutor General's representative, who 
argued that Khalil was a mandatory witness and was not 
present.  The presiding judge ruled that the trial would 
resume on July 1, and that Khalil had to attend.  The 
Prosecutor General's office has publicly maintained that 
Khalil is banned from leaving Azerbaijan because he is a 
witness in the Strekhalin trial, a point that Presidential 
Advisor Ali Hasanov also made to the Ambassador on June 19 
(ref a).  Previously, Khalil told us that he did not plan on 
attending the trial, and that his lawyer had notified the 
authorities about Khalil,s position.  When asked, Khalil 
said he did not think the Prosecutor General would force him 
to attend the trial. 
 
2.  (SBU) Separately, GOAJ authorities prevented Khalil from 
leaving the country on June 19.  Khalil told the French 
Charge that he was followed to the airport by four unmarked 
vehicles.  Upon arrival at the airport, he was approached by 
a stranger who asked him to carry a package on the plane. 
Khalil refused.  When he arrived at passport control, there 
was a 30-minute back-and-forth between the Border Guard 
Officer and someone on the phone, with an apparent 
disagreement over whether Khalil should be allowed to leave 
the country.  Khalil finally was informed that he was legally 
unable to leave the country and was allowed to leave the 
airport.  Khalil said that, in the aftermath of this June 19 
incident, he believes that he still is being followed.  He is 
still being accompanied by Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) 
bodyguards, which he said has made him feel safer. 
 
3.  (SBU) The Embassy spoke with Institute for Reporters' 
Freedom and Safety (IRFS) chairman Emin Huseynov on June 23 
to get an update on his medical condition.  Per ref B, 
Huseynov reportedly was beaten by an unidentified, 
non-uniformed individual while in police detention on June 
14.  Huseynov told the Embassy that his health is improving, 
but he still suffers from headaches, neck pain, vision 
problems, and a persistent noise in his ears.  Huseynov 
remains hospitalized, and he is unsure when he will be 
discharged.  Huseynov also told us that the hospital staff is 
treating him for a brain concussion, although the doctors 
reportedly are afraid to admit officially Huseynov's symptoms. 
 
4.  (SBU) Huseynov highlighted that in the aftermath of his 
reported June 14 beating, there has been an attempt to 
publicly slander him and the IRFS.  He noted a June 20 
article in Ses newspaper, which is affiliated with the ruling 
Yeni Azerbaijan Party, that claimed he had links with western 
missionary groups and that he supports ties with the 
terrorist PKK organization. 
DERSE