17:39, 1 February 2017

ECtHR accepts complaints of Mamedov and Ibragimov

Giyas Ibragimov (right) and Bairam Mamedov. Collage by the 'Caucasian Knot'. Photo: RFE/RL, http://www.meydan.tv

The advocates of Giyas Ibragimov and Bairam Mamedov, convicted in Azerbaijan for applying graffiti on the monument to Geidar Aliev, have turned to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) asking to consider their complaints in the priority order.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 10, 2016, Bairam Mamedov, an activist of the “Nida” movement, and Giyas Ibragimov, a Facebook user, were detained in Baku. They keep asserting that they are persecuted for making graffiti on the pedestal of the monument to Geidar Aliev.

Photos of the monument of Geidar Aliev in the park in central Baku with inscriptions on its pedestal were disseminated on May 10 in social networks on the Internet and some online editions. The inscription in the Azerbaijani language read: "Qul bayramınız mübarək!" (Congratulations on the slaves' holiday!). This was wordplay with the phrase "Congratulations on the Day of Flowers!" This day is marked annually on May 10, the birthday of former president Geidar Aliev. On the other side of the pedestal, it was written in English: "Fuck the system!" Later, the inscriptions were erased.

On November 8, 2016, the court found Bairam Mamedov guilty of large-scale drug dealing and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. Earlier, on October 25, Giyas Ibragimov was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on a similar charge.

Ibragimov and Mamedov have sent two complaints to the ECtHR each – about torture during the pre-trial detention and about unjustified detention.

On January 31, their advocates received official notification from the ECtHR that the applicants' complaints had been taken into consideration, said the advocate Elchin Sadygov.

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

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent