Azerbaijani political prisoner Ali Insanov appeals against verdict

On May 15, Togrul Babaev, an advocate of Ali Insanov, the former Minister for Public Health, filed an appeal against the guilty verdict pronounced to his client.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2007, Ali Insanov was sentenced on the charges of bribery and economic crimes, and in August 2016, when his term of imprisonment was about to be completely served, new charges were brought against Ali Insanov of storing psychotropic substances in the penal colony and attacking a staff member of the Penitentiary Service.

The Azerbaijani human rights defenders have recognized Ali Insanov as a political prisoner.

On May 15, the Ali Insanov's advocate submitted an appeal against the verdict to the Karadag District Court. According to advocate Togrul Babaev, in the appeal, the defence requests the court to stop the criminal prosecution on the ground of not guilty.

According to Togrul Babaev, "the criminal case was fabricated in order not to release Ali Insanov from prison upon completion of his first term."

"Ali Insanov does not believe in the fairness of the court of appeal. However, we will go through all instances to have grounds to file a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)," emphasized Togrul Babaev.

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