Azerbaijan: rights defenders condemn conviction of opposition activists Ilgar Rzaev

Ilgar Rzaev, an activist of the oppositional "Open Society" Party (OSP) and a volunteer of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), was sentenced in Azerbaijan to 2 years in prison. Azerbaijani human rights activists and NGOs find the verdict "politically motivated."

On August 31, the Narimanov District Court of Baku found him guilty under the Article 234.1 (illegal purchase and possession of drugs) of the Criminal Code. According to investigators, they found 1 gram of heroin in Rzayev's apartment. Asabali Mustafaev, Rzaev's advocate, said that the verdict was "fulfilment of a political order" aimed to punish the oppositionist for his active civil position and the authorities' revenge for the tough criticism of the country's leadership by his mother Shirinbadji Rzaeva, also an active member of the OSP.

As noted by Mr Mustafaev, the accusation was completely fabricated and built only on evidences of policemen. According to his version, the search of the apartment was made in violation of the law without presentation of the sanction.

The mother of the convict Shirinbadji Rzaeva said at the trial that several persons in civilian clothes broke into their apartment. They did not present themselves and made a search without any explanations. According to her statement, and the evidence of the convict, the drug was planted by the agents themselves.

Asabali Mustafaev insists that the protocol compiled during the search cannot be considered as evidence because the search warrant was not presented. The advocate requested to withdraw the protocol from the case files, but his motion was dismissed by the court.

He added that all the motions of the defence were dismissed, in particular, the motions to change the freedom restriction measure and to hold a video and audio recording of the trial.

Mustafaev said that the verdict will be appealed against at the Baku Court of Appeal.

The Narimanov District Court refused to comment, citing the fact that the verdicts passed by judges "are not discussed; and disgruntled parties may file an appeal."

Leila Yunus, Director of the IPD, has strongly condemned the verdict to Rzaev, treating it as "politically-motivated persecution of civically active people involved in the fight for democracy."

The verdict to Rzaev was condemned by the OSP, where he is a member. The party believes that the verdict is politically motivated and demands immediate release of Ilgar Rzaev.

A special statement in connection with the verdict to Rzaev was issued also by the human rights campaign "Sing for Democracy". The statement recollects that Ilgar Rzaev was a tenant at No. 211 in Mirzagi Aliev Street and opposed, together with his relatives, the demolition of the district by the authorities. The campaign believes that Rzaev's conviction has to do with the civil activities of himself and his relatives; and Rzaev was convicted for political reasons as punishment for taking part in protests on the eve of the "Eurovision-2012" in Baku.