In Azerbaijan, BCA upholds verdict to Neimat Panakhly

On December 1, the Baku Court of Appeal (BCA), chaired by Aflatun Gasymov, completed considering the appeal complaint lodged by Neimat Panakhly, the leader of the Party of National Statehood of Azerbaijan (PNSA).

On December 1, Mr Panakhly stated at the BCA that the first instance court had passed a guilty verdict "on political order." He is sure that he had been arrested because of his political activities and criticism of the authorities before and after the November 7, 2010, parliamentary elections.

Messrs Panakhly and Farzaliev asked the court to acquit them. However, the judge upheld the verdict of the first instance, said Panakh Panakhly, a nephew of the leader of the PNSA.

Samir Isaev, Neimat Panakhly's advocate, said that he was absent at the trial because of his business trip to Istanbul. He believes that his client is persecuted for political reasons.

"Why else they should search the house and confiscate CDs and computer from the person accused of disorderly conduct," said the lawyer.

In his opinion, given the emotional and fiery temper of Panakhly, he was provoked into an incident, which was then presented as beating by the leader of the PNSA of some so-called "victim".

The BCA has refused on their decision. The office of the court said that in the coming days, the convicts and their lawyers will receive the text of the court's verdict, and "they will see the justification of the decision there."