18:02, 3 July 2013

In Azerbaijan, Dashgyn Melikov, activist of PFPA, sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment

Dashgyn Melikov, activist of PFPA. Photo: Beyim Hesenli, http://beyimhasanli.wordpress.com/

Dashgyn Melikov, an activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was found guilty of drug possession and sentenced to 2.5 years of imprisonment. The relevant decision was made today by the Sumgait City Court of Azerbaijan.

The defence has expressed the discontent with the court's verdict and intends to challenge it, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

Meanwhile, the building of the Sumgait Court was approached by about 100 young activists from the PFPA, the "Musavat" Party and other youth organizations. In the yard of the court, they chanted the slogan: "Freedom to Dashgyn!"; however, policemen started to push young people aside from the court building. The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by advocate Asabali Mustafaev that the incident had been over and no one had been detained.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that 22-year-old Dashgyn Melikov was detained on March 25 in Sumgait on suspicion of making counterfeit money. Later, Dashgyn Melikov was charged of illegal possession of drugs. The young man denied the charge filed and believed that he was being prosecuted for political reasons.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent