Economist Gasimov, imprisoned in Azerbaijan, has refused a lawyer

Fazil Gasimov requested a court-appointed lawyer because his family's financial situation does not allow him to hire a defense attorney.

"Caucasian Knot" wrote that in March, a Baku court sentenced economist Fazil Gasimov to nine years in prison for counterfeiting money. In May, Gasimov went on a hunger strike to protest his abuse, and in June complained about being beaten by guards.

Fazil Gasimov refused the services of lawyer Nemat Karimli, Meydan TV reported, citing his brother.

“The reason is that the lawyer does not provide him with any legal assistance. The court gave the lawyer five minutes to talk to Fazil, but Nemat Karimli took the phone and left (the courtroom). At the end of March, we signed an agreement with him, and he visited Fazil only once, and that was after numerous requests. The last time he spoke with Fazil was on August 14: at the direction of the appellate court judge, who invited him to familiarize himself with the case materials. But there was no confidential meeting there either: everything took place under the control of the court staff,” Nazim Gasimov said.

Nemat Karimli himself said that he did not want to talk about this case.

Note. On August 19, during another court hearing in the Baku Court of Appeal, Fazil Gasimov petitioned the court to provide a state lawyer.

“We do not have the opportunity to hire a lawyer at our own expense. Our financial situation is very difficult. We are forced to ask the state to appoint a defense attorney. At the hearing, Fazil presented the judge with all the documents confirming his innocence, filed petitions, but they were rejected. There were four petitions in total, none were granted,” Nazim Gasimov said.