Opposition and independent media again barred from former health minister's trial

The ban on certain news media from attending the trial of former health minister Ali Insanov was repeated yesterday at the third hearing. Journalists from Azadlig, Yeni Musavat, Gundalik Azerbaijan newspapers, Radio Liberty and the news agency Turan were prevented from covering either the morning or the afternoon court session yesterday. Claiming there were not enough seats, officials at the court for major crimes granted access only to reporters from the pro-government media, as they had done during the second hearing on 22 February. The authorities are trying to hush up the accusations which Insanov has been making against the ruling party and senior government officials. Press Council president Aflaun Amashev has promised that journalists will not be excluded from subsequent hearings. The council is supposed to help settle disputes between the government and media.