Detained activist Faradj Kerimli rejects appointed advocate

The preparatory session at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, which intended to consider the case of Faradj Kerimli, an activist of the "Musavat" Party, was postponed today, because the defendant has rejected the appointed state advocate.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Faradj Kerimli was detained on July 23, 2014, in Baku. According to investigators, narcotic drugs were found on him, and he was engaged in propaganda of psychotropic substances in social networks. A week earlier, his brother Siradj was detained, allegedly, also for possessing drugs. Both brothers state their innocence.

"Faradj was informed about today's court session only last night, while his advocate Nemat Kerimli was not informed at all; he learnt about the session from us. This is another violation of my son's rights," Ragif Kerimli, the detainee's father, who is also an activist of the "Musavat" Party, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, the today's session on Faradj's case was appointed literally simultaneously with the sitting on the case of his brother Siradj. "The lawyer Nemat Kerimli could not be present at the same time at both sessions. On the other hand, he had no time to get ready for the session on Faradj's case," said Ragif Kerimli, noting that at the preparatory session on Faradj Kerimli's case he was offered to make use of the appointed state advocate; however, he refused; and the session was rescheduled for February 25.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.