The first hearing of Rustam Hukumov’s suit against “ImruzNews” newspaper is taking place today at the Ismoili Somoni regional court. Rustam Hukumov, son of Amonullo Hukumov, head of the Tajik Railways company, brought the case to protect his honor and dignity. The hearing is held behind closed doors. Related decision was made by the judge Sherzod Nizomov as he satisfied request filed by Ruhumboy Hudoyerov, claimant’s lawyer.

The lawyer, who believes that the case refers to honor and dignity of his client, lodged the request and the judge went to the retiring room. When he returned back he announced that the hearing will be held behind closed doors. He also said his decision was made in accordance with the norms of the Constitution of Tajikistan and the Civil and Procedural Code of the Republic.

Rustami Joni, the founder of “ImruzNews”, said there were no grounds to hold the hearing behind closed doors. He believes that “the details are absolutely clear to everyone.” “Secondly, we are not talking about any state secret or life threatening information,” he said.

Gulchehra Holmatova, defendant’s lawyer, whose services were provided by the Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law of Tajikistan, and who believes that this case does not refer to honor and dignity, asked the judge to hold the hearing openly.

She also said that Hukumov has no grounds to demand 50.000 Somoni in compensation for moral damage. “Many Russian media reported about Hukumov’s arrest who was detained with drugs,” she said. “So, “ImruzNews” did not uncover anything new but just redistributed available information.”

R.Hukumov filed his suit with Sino regional court in late January. He demands 50.000 Somoni in compensation for moral damage he suffered when the newspaper published an article “Hukumov and Bakiev turn into headache of their fathers” in which it reported about detention of Maxim Bakiev, son of former president of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev and arrest of Rustam Hukumov, son of head of the Tajik Railways company.

In 2010 Rustam Hukumov was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison for drug trafficking in Russia.

In December 2011 R.Hukumov’s case was reviewed in one of Russian courts and he was discharged.

Many experts linked Hukumov’s release with the release of Russian pilot Vladimir Sadovnichy and his Estonian colleague Alexey Rudenko who were sentenced to 8.5 years in prison in November 2011 by the city court of Kurgon-Teppa. Pilots from Rolkan Investments Ltd. Were found guilty of trafficking of spare parts for airplanes, violation of the rules of international air transportation and illegal cross of the state border.

On November 22, 2011, the Khatlon regional court reviewed the case and reduced their sentence down to 2 years 6 months and 10 days. The pilots were released as they have already spent more than 6 months in prison and as the two were granted amnesty.

Experts believe the release of pilots was the result of the Russian Government’s pressure on Tajikistan, which could be seen in sanctions aimed at Tajik labor migrants in Russia.