Baku Court of Appeal dismisses appeal against extension of arrest of "Nida" activist

Rashad Gasanov, an activist of the civil movement "Nida" (Shout) will stay in custody under decision of the above court.

Gasanov was arrested on March 14 and is charged under Article 228.3 (illegal possession of firearms, explosives and devices within an organized criminal grouping) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which provides for the punishment from 5 to 8 years of imprisonment. On May 30, the Nasimi District Court of Baku extended his arrest for another three months. Gasanov denies the charge and believes that he is being prosecuted for political reasons.

Asabali Mustafaev, Gasanov's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the today's sitting of the Baku Court of Appeal was just formal: it lasted for "a few minutes."

The advocate asserts that there is no physical evidence of his client's illegal actions: "All the accusation is based only on the fact that he was one of the leaders of the 'Nida'."

He added that he was drafting a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). So far, the General Prosecutor's Office has made no comments on statements of advocates of arrested "Nida" activists.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Rashad Gasanov is one of the seven "Nida" activists arrested in Azerbaijan in March and April. The young people are accused of illegal possession of drugs and (or) explosives.

The Amnesty International has treated the arrested "Nida" activists as "prisoners of conscience."