18:58, 19 March 2013

Azerbaijan: court leaves "Nida" activist Rashad Gasanov in custody

The Baku Court of Appeal has upheld the ruling to arrest for three months Rashad Gasanov, a board member of the civil movement "Nida" (Shout), having dismissed the defence's motion, said Asabali Mustafaev, Gasanov's advocate.

Gasanov is charged under Article 228.3 (illegal possession of firearms, explosives and plants within an organized criminal grouping) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which assumes the punishment of 5-8 years in prison.

"Today, at the Baku Court of Appeal, I saw my client for the first time after his arrest on March 14. We were able to speak only briefly. Rashad said he didn't feel guilty," said the lawyer Mustafaev.

He added that Gasanov had no complains about the treatment and custody conditions.

The investigation against Gasanov and three other "Nida" activists is conducted by the Investigatory Department of Grave Crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office. Its press service refused to comment on the state of things to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent