A trial on the case of the oppositional activists detained at a meeting on April, 2, started in Baku

On July, 19, hearings on the case of six activists of the opposition accused of violation of public order during an unauthorized meeting of Civil Movement for Democracy “Public Chamber” (CMDPC) on April, 2, in the center of Azerbaijani capital started in Sabaiil court of Baku.

Activists of “People’s Front Party” of Azerbaijan Sahib Kerimov, Arif Ashili, Babek Gasanov, Zulfugar Eivazli, member of “Musavat” party Elshan Gasanov and nonpartisan Elnur Israfilov were brought before the court. They are accused according to clauses “organization or active participation in actions violating public order”, “deliberate damnification or destruction of other people’s property” of the Criminal code of Azerbaijan. In case if their guilt is proven they may be sentenced to up to three years of custody.

The defendants were brought into the courtroom in handcuffs and placed into an iron cell which caused indignation of many representatives of the group of public support. However, after solicitations of defense judge Elnur Gasanov allowed the defendants to take seats beside their attorneys.

In spite of solicitations of the attorneys and requests of the journalists judge Gasanov refused permission of even a short-term photosurveying, video filming and audio recording of the process.

Public prosecutor read out the indictment. According to him, “the defendants tried to realize their criminal intentions under the pretext of holding a meeting”, “committed a gross violation of public order”, held an unauthorized action in spite of a warning, disobeyed the policemen’s demands and inflicted great damnification on state and private property.

In response to state prosecutor’s speech those present in the courtroom shouted out: “Lies!”, “Slander!”, “Fabrication!”.

Elnur Israfilov, resident of Yevlakh district, nonpartisan, invalid of the third group, was the first of the defendants to speak. He said that he came to Baku from Yevlakh the day before the meeting of April, 2, in order to receive an allowance from a Jewish charitable society. “I did not know that a meeting was planned on April, 2, in Baku, I just went out for a walk. When I saw the manifestants I joined them. I am visually handicapped and I get an allowance of 35 manats (42 dollars), so how could I help expressing my protest?”, Israfilov said.

Arif Alishili, activist of the People’s Front of Azerbaijan, also rejected the accusations. At the same time he said that he went to the action of protest consciously. “I protested against unemployment, bribery and monopolies”, he said. Alishli rejected the accusation of breaking the window glass of a bus.

According to him, it was the provocateurs who destroyed the window glasses of the bus and shop windows.