21:40, 26 January 2012

Azerbaijan: deputy chair of Islamic Party sentenced to 1.5 years of imprisonment

Today, the Sumgait City Court, chaired by Judge Zeigyam Guseinov, has finished the trial of Arif Ganiev, Deputy Chair of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA).

The court has found Ganiev guilty under Articles 228.1 (illegal purchase, possession and bearing of firearms and ammunition) and 234 (illegal purchase, possession and bearing drugs) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan and sentenced him to 1.5 years of imprisonment.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Anar Gasymov, Ganiev's advocate, that his client, although refusing to plead guilty, however, agreed with the verdict and is not going to submit an appeal complaint.

In this regard, the lawyer gave no comments on the verdict.

The Sumgait city prosecutor's office and the court also refused to make comments.

In his turn, Akif Geidarli, the other deputy chairman of the IPA, said in his comment on the verdict that it was "although lenient but still unfair." Mr Geidarli has noted that Ganiev is a "true statesman and committed no criminal offences."

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent