Azerbaijan: oppositionist faces new charges

Elnur Israfilov, an arrested participant of the rally on April 2 in Azerbaijan, was presented another accusation, this time of "intentional destruction or damage of other people's property." This was reported by his advocate Yalcin Imanov.

According to lawyer Imanov, the new charge is based on a video, shown on the "Lider" TV Channel, where Israfilov was shown kicking the door of the bus, where other detained oppositionists had been put. The lawyer has noted that Israfilov rejects this accusation.

Yalchin Israfilov was arrested on April 27 and accused of disturbing the public order. He is a Category III invalid and takes care of two small children.

Gyulyaga Aslanly, a member of the Civil Movement for Democracy "Public Chamber" (CMDPC) explained that "the protesters tried to open the doors of the bus, as tear gas was sprayed inside it, and some of the detainees felt bad."

"The accusation of damaging other people's property, presented to Yalchin Israfilov, is absurd. He was only trying to help people who felt choking. In fact, the punishment should be imposed on those, who sprayed tear gas inside the bus and thus caused harm to human health. The very removal of buses from their city routes and using them for transporting detainees was illegal. Besides, the video shows policemen beating people inside the bus with their truncheons," he said.

According to his story, the investigation was conducted "in biased manner and is completely fabricated." "Elnur Medjidli, the other figurant in the case, is accused of smashing a shop window. However, the only available evidence is the video, just showing Medjidli passing by the shop window. Any person, who passed by the shop on that day, could be equally suspected of breaking it," said Aslanly.