Azerbaijan: head of "Promoting Democracy" sentenced conditionally and released in courtroom

Azerbaijan has announced a verdict to Emil Mamedov, the head of the NGO "Promoting Democracy". The court sentenced him, as well as another employee of the NGO, who had slandered Mamedov during the investigation, to one year of condition imprisonment each. Both were released in the courtroom.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 13 Emil Mamedov was detained on suspicion of extortion after Tofig Gasymov, a member of the same NGO, at a confrontation with Mamedov on April 17 testified against his leader. Gasymov then stated that on behalf of Mamedov he extorted funds from heads of regional institutions, by blackmailing them with publication of defamatory material on the Internet. Earlier, Gasymov was also charged with extortion.

On May 14, the court arrested Mamedov for three months. On August 21, the Lenkoran Court for Grave Crimes began considering the case on the merits. Gasymov said at the trial that he had slandered Mamedov under physical pressure during the investigation. Mamedov said that his arrest is backed up by the authorities of the Salyan District.

"For the first time we managed to ensure release of a defendant in a political case. The verdict is equal to acquittal, as under the incriminated crime Emil Mamedov was under threat of up to 10 years in prison," said Fariz Namazly, an advocate.

Mamedov himself said that he would continue his enlightenment activities in the NGO "Promoting Democracy", which is headed by him.