Three "Ganja case" convicts have their prison terms reduced

The Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan has mitigated the verdicts to three convicted under the "Ganja case" by reducing their prison terms. Human rights defenders are pointing to political motives for persecuting the convicts.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 3, 2018, an attempt was committed on the life of Elmar Veliev, the head of the Ganja City Administration. After the arrest of the suspect, Yunis Safarov, mass protests were held by the people dissatisfied with Veliev's work. The rally on July 10, 2018, was dispersed; and two policemen perished. About 60 people were convicted under the riot case; and Yunis Safarov, the major convict, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Now, the SC has partially satisfied the complaints of Urfan Mamedov, Ogtai Guseinzade and Abbas Abbasov on episodes of mass riots and the murder of the two policemen.

Mamedov was cleared of charges for grave crimes, including "terrorism", "premeditated murder of a person" and others. Guseinzade was also relieved of many indictment points, including "terrorism" and "premeditated murder of a person."

"Of course, the mitigation of verdicts to three convicts is a positive fact. However, facts indicate that most of those convicted under the 'Ganja case' were not involved in committing crimes," said Arzu Abdulla, a member of the Committee for the Protection of Islamists' Rights.

"Most of the convicts fell victim to repressions against believers," Elshan Gasanov, the coordinator of the Union for the Freedom of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners, believes.

Zemfira, the mother of Ogtai Guseinzade is sure that her son had committed no crimes.

"My son's only fault is that on July 10, 2018, he was at the place where the protest action was scheduled," she has stated.