20:13, 19 August 2004

Evidence against oppositionists extracted under torture

A trial in the case of seven opposition leaders has continued in the Court for Grave Crimes today. Three witnesses gave evidence during the sitting. The last witness, Nofel Nagiev, refused to give evidence at first, lawyer Samed Panakhov told the Caucasian Knot correspondent. But at the urgent request of the court he told what happened with him on October 16, 2003.

On October 16, policemen came to Nagiev's house and arrested him for 15 days. While being arrested, he was tortured and forced to give evidence against Rauf Arifoglu, a deputy chair of the Musavat party. On the 8th day, Nagiev did not stand it and gave false evidence. Then he was released. The witness recanted this evidence in the course of today's sitting.

The trial against the seven opposition leaders started on May 7, 2004. They all are charged with organizing riots on October 15-16, 2003 and threatened with imprisonment for the period of up to 7 years.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent

Source: Caucasian Knot