Azerbaijani SC upholds verdict to woman who beat four men

On April 7, the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan, chaired by Ali Seifaliev, considered the cassation complaint lodged by Sayara Geidarova, who was earlier found guilty of beating four men. The supreme judicial instance of the country upheld the verdict of guilty.

At the start of the session Ms Geidarova asked the judge on what grounds the session was held, as the documents confirming her identity were lost during the consideration of her case by the Surakhan District Court.

However, according to Geidarova, her question caused irritation of the judge, and he ordered to drive her out of the hall. In protest, Geidarova cut her veins right in the building of the court, and an ambulance was called to help her.

In the absence of Geidarova, the judge ruled to uphold the verdicts of the Surakhan District and the Baku Appeal Courts, which had sentenced Geidarova to 1 year of conditional imprisonment.

The employees of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS), who were monitoring the litigation, confirmed that Geidarova cut her veins with a razor in despair. According to Elnur Mamedov, an employee of the IRFS, the judge failed to give Geidarova a chance to speak in her defence and present her arguments about the illegality of earlier judgements against her, as her ID was lost during the investigation held by the Surakhan District Court.

According to Mamedov, the judge prohibited any photo and video filming at the process.

The office of the Supreme Court refused from any comments on Geidarova's case, having noted that "the judge is free to decide on the basis of the law."

The criminal persecution of Geidarova was initiated after her conflict with builders, who occupied in 2005 the territory in Ahmedly village in Baku in the yard of the house where she lived. Geidarova tried to prevent construction; she also had a conflict with the police.