Judicial investigation into Sadygov's case completed in Azerbaijan

The Lenkoran District Court of Azerbaijan has finished the judicial investigation into the case of Yadigyar Sadygov, an advisor to the chairman of the "Musavat" Party, accused of hooliganism.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the hearing of Yadigyar Sadygov's case was held at the Lenkoran District Court of Azerbaijan. At the sitting on November 12, the court rejected all the motions of the defence.

Khalid Bagirov, a Sadygov's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that at the today's session the judge again rejected all the motions of the defence. Then, the court gave the floor to a defence witness – Shakhin Agaev, a local activist of the "Musavat" Party.

"He has confirmed that Yadigyar Sadygov took no violent actions. On the contrary, Rashid Karimov provoked Sadygov, Agaev and another activist Fikret Akhmedov, by insulting them personally and the opposition as a whole," said the lawyer Khalid Bagirov.

In the opinion of Guseingulu Mamedli, the head of the Lenkoran district organization of another oppositional party – the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), the authorities feared that Yadigyar Sadygov could organize protests in Lenkoran on the eve of the October presidential election.

The "hooliganism" and "illegal possession of firearms" are the most popular articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, used to persecute believers, journalists and youth activists, said Gyunay Ismailova, the lawyer of the Institute of Reporters' Freedom and Safety (IRFS).