In Azerbaijan, head of the youth wing of "Musavat" Party sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest

Today, the Nasimi District Court of Baku has found Tural Abbasly, the head of the youth wing of the oppositional "Musavat" Party, guilty of evading administrative penalty and sentenced him to 15 days of administrative arrest.

Abbasly was accused of evading the public works, awarded to him instead of a fine for taking part in the protest action against non-combat losses in the Azerbaijani Army that took place on January 12 inBaku. Abbasly refused to pay the fine out of the principle, considering that he realized his right to the freedom of assembly.

At the trial Abbasly himself defended his rights.

"During the session, Abbasly rejected the charges against him. According to his version, he was ordered to perform community works at the Housing Maintenance Section (known as ZhEU) No. 41; he went there and got registered; but they gave him no work," Intigam Aliev, the head of the Legal Enlightenment Society and one of the human rights defenders admitted to the courtroom, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Aliev called the case "fabricated and politically motivated." In his opinion, "there was no need to rush with consideration of Abbasly's case; and if there were any claims against him, he could have been warned." "In fact, Abbasly was arrested for realizing his right to take part in a peaceful protest," said Aliev.