Activist Mokhaddin Orujev was kept in handcuffs at trial

On 24 July, a preparatory session for the trial of activist Mokhaddin Orujev began in Baku's Serious Crimes Court.  Journalists and representatives of civil society were not allowed to attend the trial. M. Orujev was brought to the court with handcuffs behind him.

According to the activist's relatives, his lawyer Nazim Musayev demanded that the handcuffs be removed. The guards removed the handcuffs, but put them on from the front. The lawyer demanded to remove the handcuffs altogether.  However, the presiding judge Rasim Sadygov stated that this issue falls within the competence of the penitentiary service.  In response, the defense lawyer pointed out that decisions are made by judges at the hearing. Besides, keeping the accused in handcuffs in court is considered as torture by the precedent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

Further, it turned out that neither the defendant nor the defense lawyer had been given an indictment for familiarization. Musayev regarded this as a violation of the defendant's right to defense.

In this regard, the judge decided to postpone the hearing to 30 July.

In a conversation with Turan correspondent, lawyer Musayev noted that non-admission of media representatives and other persons to the trial violates the principle of openness and publicity of the court.

He also claimed that the decision to keep the accused in handcuffs in court was unlawful.

The defense considers the criminal prosecution of Orujev unjustified and will seek his acquittal.

*Orujev was arrested on 13 December 2023 on charges of drug trafficking on a large scale (Article 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan).  Earlier, in October 2023, he was administratively arrested for 30 days on charges of disobeying the police.

After his release, Orujev stated that the real reason for his arrest was criticism of the authorities on social media. He also complained about beatings and inhuman treatment by the police.