In Azerbaijan, coordinator of headquarters of civil organization "Kura" arrested

In Azerbaijan, Oktai Gyulalyev, the coordinator of the civil organization "Kura" was sentenced to 12-day administrative arrest on charges of disorderly conduct.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Oktai Gyulalyev was detained on April 8 in the village of Minbashi of the Sabirabad District at a meeting with local residents. Oktai Gyulalyev arrived in the region to monitor measures to eliminate the effects of floods on the Kura and Araz Rivers, which occurred in the spring of 2010.

"Gyulalyev was detained for using foul abuse in a public place," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by a police officer on duty from the Sabirabad District Police Department.

According the activists of the "Kura" headquarters, in the village of Minbashi, Oktai Gyulalyev collected complaints from citizens and clarified the people's demands, and at that time, he was detained by the local police.

Oktai Gyulalyev was charged of allegedly inciting people to protests and demonstrations against the authorities. He denied the allegations and stated that the meeting took place in the presence of a police officer and witnesses, the agency "Turan" reports.

On April 9, the Sabirabad District Court sentenced Oktai Gyulalyev to 12-day administrative arrest, having found him guilty under Article 296 (disorderly conduct) of the Administrative Code. This information was confirmed to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Judge Firdovsi Aliev, who had pronounced the decision. However, he rejected to comment.

"Gyulalyev was sentenced on the basis of false testimonies of three residents of the Sabirabad District," stated Intigam Aliev, the head of the Legal Education Society (LES).

According to him, Oktai Gyulalyev waived a lawyer appointed by the state. However, his motion to provide him with his own lawyer was dismissed. He also demanded to invite to the trial the participants of the meeting held in the village of Minbashi as witnesses. The Judge dismissed also that motion.

Meanwhile, the lawyer reported that prior to the trial Oktai Gyulalyev called him and said that he had been beaten by police officers at the police department.