In Azerbaijan, Court arrests three activists of youth organizations for 15 days

On July 15, the District Court of Baku sentenced Ulvi Gasanli, Medjid Mardjanly, and Kenan Gasymly, activists of youth organizations, to 15 days of administrative arrest. The young people were found guilty of disobeying the police. An advocate of the detainees stated that the Court made the decision without waiting for the arrival of the defender.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the young activists were detained the day before, on July 14, in Baku.

"When I was asked to defend young people, I was at the other end of the city. And while I was driving through all the traffic jams, the judge, without waiting for my arrival, considered the case involving an appointed advocate," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by advocate Elchin Sadygov.

The advocate treats the arrest of the young people as "politically motivated". "The young people actively attend anti-government protest actions, they are active in social networks, and they are punished for that," the advocate has said.

In connection with the detention of the activists, the oppositional National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) made a statement and demanded to release the young people immediately. In its statement, the NCDF expressed its concern over "such repressions committed by the authorities against activists".

The defence has announced its intention to challenge the verdict at the Baku Court of Appeal.