In Azerbaijan, 31 persons accused of terrorism sentenced to imprisonment

On June 17, at the Court for Grave Crimes of Azerbaijan, where the trial on the case of a group of citizen of the republic, accused of terrorism and attempt to overthrow the power, some of the defendants stated their innocence.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, the Court has sentenced the following persons to the following terms of imprisonment: Asif Amikishili and Rashid Mustafaev - to 15 years each, Emil Shikhaliev - to 14 years, Makhir Allahverdiev and Firdovsi Guliev - to 13 years each, Vasif Omarov, Elmaddin Faradzev and Faig Dzhafarov - to 12 years each, Ibadat Alazov and Teimur Akhundov - to 11 years each, Amil Khalilov, Kyamran Ilyasov, Elnur Gaziev and Elshan Turusker - to 10 years each, Dzheikhun Aliev, Zeinal Akperov and Makhir Abdullaev - to 9 years each, Tural Gasanov, Emin Dzhami and Mekhti Kerimov - to 8 years each, Vusal Isaev, Alikerem Mamedov and Rashid Nabiev - to 7 years each, Ramil Farzaliev - to 6 years, Namik Mamedov and Elchin Dzhanagaev - to 5 years each, Vugar Abdullaev, Arif Ibragimov, Fuad Movsumov and Rashad Makhmudov - to 4 years each, and Bakhtiyar Mustafaev - to 3 years.

Some of the defendants admitted their guilt partially, and some of them stated their innocence.

Defendants Emin Dzhami, Vusal Isaev, Elnur Gaziev and some others rejected any lawyer's services whatsoever. "We have no money to hire advocates; and we have no trust in those appointed by the state. And in general, in the Azerbaijani judicial system it's senseless to hire advocates, as the courts all the same fulfil orders of the investigation," a relative of one of the defendants, who preferred to remain anonymous, said earlier to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to the materials of the investigation, Azer Misirkhanov, also known as "Abdulla", is considered to be the leader of the grouping. In 2001, he was detained at crossing the state border and convicted. When back at large, he continued his illegal actions and involved the above persons in his new grouping (in late 2009 he was killed during a military operation of international forces in Afghanistan).

According to the investigation, Misirkhanov had planned a number of terror acts in Azerbaijan, aiming to spread havoc among the population on the eve of 2008 presidential elections and to blow up the Baku-Novorossisk oil pipeline. However, instead of the oil main, the bandits blew up by mistake a periphery pipeline.