Azerbaijan: PFPA activist Dayanat Babaev released for inquiry period

Today, the Nasimi District Court in Baku granted the motion, filed by the defence of Dayanat Babaev, an activist of the Youth Committee of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), accused of hooliganism and released him from custody. The investigation into the criminal case against the activist is underway.

Let us remind you that on November 24, Dayanat Babaev was detained on suspicion of hooliganism after he was released from arrest on charges of disobeying the police during unsanctioned protest action, held in Baku on November 17.

The investigation under Article 221.2.1 (hooliganism committed by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan is being conducted by the Nasimi District Police Department. According to investigators, on November 7, in the centre of Baku, Dayanat Babaev together with Rakhim Musaev, another activist of the PFPA, being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, insulted citizen Tofiq Salimov and inflicted him minor bodily harm.

Dayanat Babaev denied the charges. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Asabali Mustafaev, the activist's lawyer.

Today, at trial, the lawyer filed the motion to release Dayanat Babaev from custody. The lawyer pointed out to the failure of the investigator's arguments that a pre-trial restriction measure in the form of arrest should be chosen against the activist, since he could hide from the investigators.

Asabali Mustafaev has noted that the incident, incriminated to Dayanat Babaev, occurred on November 7 and on the same date, the police took his testimony.

"If Dayanat Babaev had intentions to hide from the investigators, he would have done that during that time," Asabali Mustafaev said.

The lawyer assured that Dayanat Babaev would cooperate with the investigators. The judge pronounced the decision to release the activist from custody. The activist signed a recognizance not to leave.

The court session ended at 07:30 p.m., and after that, Dayanat Babaev was brought to the Nasimi District Police Department, and he was released at about 09:00 p.m. local time.