Baku: prosecutor demands prison for four oppositionists

At the Sabail District Court of Baku, at the trial of four oppositionists, arrested for taking part in the April 2 rally, the state prosecutor Djeikhun Kyazimov asked to sentence the accused to 2.5 and 3 years of imprisonment.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the previous court session on September 23 finalized the judicial investigation into the case of the four oppositionists.

Today, the prosecutor asked the court to declare the accused guilty under Article 233 "Organization of actions aimed at disturbing the public order". The prosecutor has demanded the following sentences: Arif Gadjily, the head of the office of the "Musavat" Party; Tural Abbasly, the head of the youth organization of the same party; and Muhammed Medjidli, the division head of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), - to 3 years of imprisonment each; and Fuad Gakhramanly, the deputy chairman of the PFPA, - to 2.5 years of imprisonment. Since Mr Gakhramanly was at large during the investigation, the prosecutor offered to arrest him in the courtroom.

The defence lawyers have rejected the accusations brought against their clients and treated the criminal case as a political order.

Osman Kyazimov, Gadjily's advocate, pointed to the fabricated nature of the criminal case. According to his story, during the action, glasses in buses and shop windows were smashed not by the defendants, but provocateurs associated with special services.

He also stated absolute innocence of his client, and, reminding the audience about the upcoming 100th anniversary of the "Musavat" Party and its Congress, Kyazimov, who is a member of the board of the party, right in the courtroom nominated Gadjily to the post of the party leader.

"The investigation was biased, while the court failed to summon officials from the city administration and police in order to obtain explanations on restrictions on the freedom of assembly and use of force against peaceful protesters," said Asabali Mustafaev, Gadjily's another advocate.

Yaver Guseinli, the defender of Mr Abbasly, said that the case was politically motivated, and the defendants are political prisoners. "The trial of the activists is aimed to intimidate the society in order to prevent anti-government rallies," said the lawyer.

The trial will continue on September 28, when the advocates of the two other defendants will be given the floor.

After the today's session, dozens of oppositionists' supporters accompanied them to the car shouting "Freedom!" Several persons, who were standing in the yard of the court, in their turn, dropped some insulting phrases. The verbal sparring almost turned into a brawl; however, but policemen managed to prevent it.

Let us remind you that the defendants are accused of organizing an unsanctioned rally on April 2, which, according to investigators, was accompanied by disturbance of public order and causing damage to property of individuals and legal entities.

The oppositionists reject the charges and assert that they are persecuted on political grounds for a peaceful protest against the government's policy.

Local rights defenders have already announced them political prisoners, while the authorities reject any political motives in their arrest.