In Azerbaijan, Court of Appeal releases "NIDA" activist

The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) partially granted the complaint filed by Anar Geraily, the activist of the civil movement "NIDA" (Exclamation) and the correspondent of the website "gunxeber.com" and released him from custody.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 23, the Nasimi District Court sentenced Anar Geraily to 10-day administrative arrest under Article 306 of the Administrative Code (violation of public order with disobedience to police).

Tonight, the BCA reduced the period of administrative arrest to two days. Since the activist had already served the period, he was released at the courtroom.

The release of the activist became known from the message, received by the SMS-service of the "Caucasian Knot".

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Uzeir Mamedli, the member of the Board of the movement "NIDA", that Anar Geraily pleaded not guilty and wanted complete cancellation of the verdict of the first instance court.

However, according to Uzeir Mamedli, the "NIDA" is satisfied with early relief of the activist, and the organization treats it as the result of intensive efforts of the international human rights organizations, which activists are at present in Baku due to the song contest "Eurovision 2012".

The activist was detained on May 22 near the metro station "May 28", when he was distributing leaflets of the international human rights organization "Human Rights Watch" (HRW). The leaflets contained the map of Baku with indication of places with registered violations of human rights, in particular, mass movement of citizens, whose houses were demolished for urban development and construction of infrastructure projects. The leaflets were prepared to the song contest "Eurovision 2012".

Besides, Anar Geraily stuck posters, devoted to the topic of human rights. Meanwhile, the young man was dressed in a white T-shirt with inscription "Sing for Democracy".