02:44, 2 May 2014

Baku: Facebook user Abilov tells the court about his persecution on political grounds

In Azerbaijan, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes has completed the judicial inquiry into the case of Abdula Abilov, 32, an active user of the Facebook and founder of the group "Let's stop toadies!" He is accused drug trafficking. On May 1, he said that he was prosecuted for political reasons.

The May 1 court session questioned one prosecution and two defence witnesses. The first one was the witness present during the search of Abilov's flat, said Khalid Bagirov, an advocate.

Then, Nurdjakhan Abilova, the defendant's mother was questioned; she said that during the search policemen were only interested in the political activities of her son; they looked for his laptop and took it away with them.

According to Bagirov, investigators had informally accused Abilov of running a Facebook page about the rigged presidential election of October 9, 2013, and jesting "respectable people" on the page "Let's stop toadies!"

Let us note here that arrests and convictions on charges of illegal drug have been earlier used in Azerbaijan against the users of social networks, who criticized the authorities.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent