Defense ministry to sue paper over `sullying army`
Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry intends to sue an
opposition newspaper over a recent article that it deems as biased
and sullying the country`s military.
The August 10 issue of Yeni Musavat daily carried a story entitled "What does an Azerbaijani soldier eat?" claiming that servicemen are served food earmarked for cattle. The ministry says that Yeni Musavat, publishing expert opinions of Telman Abilov and Uzeyir Jafarov, attempted to deal a blow upon the image of Azerbaijan`s army. Therefore, it is preparing to file a lawsuit against the newspaper, its deputy editor-in-chief, the journalist who wrote the article as well as the two experts.
"We don`t see another way out," said Teymur Abdullayev, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry.
Abdullayev said that, if the case is heard in court, these persons will have to prove their allegations. "Otherwise, the ministry will request the court to punish them in accord with the law."
The ministry official noted that a number of local media outlets, including Yeni Musavat, have published stories aiming to tarnish the image of the Azerbaijani military and cause a lack of public confidence in the armed forces. Some media are biased toward the Defense Ministry and are openly pursuing a smear campaign against it, he added.
The August 10 issue of Yeni Musavat daily carried a story entitled "What does an Azerbaijani soldier eat?" claiming that servicemen are served food earmarked for cattle. The ministry says that Yeni Musavat, publishing expert opinions of Telman Abilov and Uzeyir Jafarov, attempted to deal a blow upon the image of Azerbaijan`s army. Therefore, it is preparing to file a lawsuit against the newspaper, its deputy editor-in-chief, the journalist who wrote the article as well as the two experts.
"We don`t see another way out," said Teymur Abdullayev, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry.
Abdullayev said that, if the case is heard in court, these persons will have to prove their allegations. "Otherwise, the ministry will request the court to punish them in accord with the law."
The ministry official noted that a number of local media outlets, including Yeni Musavat, have published stories aiming to tarnish the image of the Azerbaijani military and cause a lack of public confidence in the armed forces. Some media are biased toward the Defense Ministry and are openly pursuing a smear campaign against it, he added.
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