In Azerbaijan, PFPA activist Dayanat Babaev sentenced to two years of conditional imprisonment

Today, the Nasimi District Court of Baku has sentenced Dayanat Babaev, an activist of the "Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan" (PFPA), to two years of conditional imprisonment. He was found guilty of hooliganism committed by a group of persons. Dayanat Babaev treats the Court's verdict as unfair and politically motivated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Dayanat Babaev was detained on November 24, 2012. According to the investigators' version, on November 7, 2012, in the centre of Baku, he together with another PFPA activist, being in a state of alcoholic intoxication, insulted citizen Tofiq Salimov and inflicted to him minor bodily harm. On September 27, 2013, Tofiq Salimov retracted his claims; however, public prosecutor demanded to sentence the activist to four years of imprisonment.

Judge Khumar Mardanova has sentenced Dayanat Babaev to 3 years of imprisonment. However, given the "extenuating circumstances" and, in particular, the fact that Dayanat Babaev had no criminal records, the sentence was changed to two years of conditional imprisonment.

In his conversation with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, Dayanat Babaev has noted that although he is satisfied that he remained free; however, he treats the verdict as unjustified and unfair. "I have not committed any crime. This was a provocation associated with my political activities," said the young man.