In "Nardaran case", defendants waive advocates' services

On December 2, the hearing of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes was held in the absence of the defendants. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by advocate Yalchin Imanov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Talekh Bagirzade is involved in the so-called "Nardaran case", which is being considered by the court in Baku starting from on August 3. The prisoners' dock contains Talekh Bagirzade and 17 other people. All defendants plead not guilty. They claim that they confessed to the crime under torture.

According to the advocate, the judge removed the defendants from the courtroom yet at the previous court hearing held on November 30. At first, Talekh Bagirzade, Abbas Guseinov (the deputy chairman of the movement "Muslim Unity"), and Jabbar Jabbarov were removed from the trial, the advocate reports.

"After the break, it was reported that 15 other defendants refused to return to the courtroom in solidarity with three removed defendants. Judge Abbasov has announced that those 15 defendants are temporarily suspended from participating in the trial because of 'disobeying the court'," said Yalchin Imanov.

According to the defender, on December 2, the defendants were brought to the court, but not accompanied to the courtroom.

After the break, the defendants decided to waive the advocates' services and wrote appropriate letters.

"The defendants have waived our services. No, they have not ceased to trust us. This is their protest against the judges. The defendants believe that if the Court fails to secure their rights, then there is no sense in participation in such a trial. If no defendants enter the courtroom, then there is no sense in involvement of advocates," explained Yalchin Imanov.

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