Azerbaijan: court to consider Gadjiev's appeal on July 5

In Azerbaijan, on June 23 the Gandzha Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Chingiz Mamedov, held a preparatory session on the case of the activist Bakhtiyar Gadjiev. Judge Mamedov appointed the consideration of the appeal on July 5.

Bakhtiyar Gadjiev asks the court in his appeal to cancel the verdict of the Nizami District Court of Gandzha, which on May 18 sentenced him to 2 years' imprisonment on charges of evading military service.

At the preparatory session the advocates petitioned for replacing the pre-trial restriction- arrest - with releasing on bail and permitting video and audio recordings, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Intigam Aliev, the head of the Society of Legal Enlightenment and the leader of advocates' team protecting the Gadjiev's rights.

The prosecution opposed the change of pre-trial restriction.

The judge also rejected to hold the judicial re-investigation on the case, despite advocates' arguments about violations of the procedural rules in the course of judicial examination of the case when Gadjiev was arrest and the proceedings in the first instance court.

A large group of youth movement activists came to the court to support Gadjiev. Their participation in the process was not hindered, and young people were permitted to talk to the accused for a few minutes during the session break.