17:46, 21 August 2014

Azerbaijani rights defender Emil Mamedov pleads not guilty at trial

In Azerbaijan, the court has started consideration on the merits of the criminal case against Emil Mamedov, the head of the NGO "Promoting Democracy". After the pronouncement of the indictment, the defendant has delivered speech, in which he denied the charges and called them politically motivated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 13, Emil Mamedov was detained on suspicion of extortion after Tofiq Gasymov, an activist of the NGO "Promoting Democracy", at the line-up with Emil Mamedov held on April 17 testified against his leader. Tofiq Gasymov has stated that following the Emil Mamedov's instructions, he was raising money from the heads of regional institutions by blackmailing them with publication of defamatory materials about them on the Internet.

According to Fariz Namazly, a defendant's advocate, the next court hearing in the case against Emil Mamedov is scheduled for September 5. The upcoming court hearing is to listen to Gasymov, another defendant, and to start questioning the victims.

Local human rights defenders treat Emil Mamedov as political prisoner. His name was included in the list of 81 political prisoners compiled by Azerbaijani NGOs and disseminated in Strasbourg at the PACE session on June 24.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent