Azerbaijan: Court of Appeal upholds sentence to opposition activist Jabbar Savalan

Today the Sumgait Court of Appeal chaired by Judge Lyatifa Mamedova concluded the consideration of the complaint lodged by Jabbar Savalan, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA).

The appeal was lodged against the sentence, which was passed against Jabbar Savalan by the Sumgait City Court on May 4, which had sentenced the activist to 2.5 years of imprisonment on charges of illegal possession of drugs.

Jabbar Savalan was detained on February 5. According to the police, 0.17 grams of opium was found on him. According to Savalan's version, the drug was planted on him.

"The struggle is now my lifestyle. I'm not afraid of prison, since the very country, where all rights and freedoms are being suppresses, has become a large prison. The main fact is that I am a free man by my spirit," said Jabbar Savalan.

His lawyer Anar Gasymov called the court decision unfair and told that the decision of the Court of Appeal would be appealed in cassation to the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan and further, if justice would not be found, – to the European Court of Human Rights.

The office of the Sumgait Court of Appeals stated that "the court decided on the basis of the comprehensive objective investigation".