Court of Appeal upholds the conviction against Hilal Mamedov

Baku/25.12.13/Turan : Today  the Baku Court of Appeal , chaired by, Jamal Ramazanov,  considered   the  appeal of the  chief editor of "Tolyshi Sado", Hilal Mamedov .

The appeal was  filed  against  the verdict of the Baku  Serious Crimes Court on  September 27  when Mammadov was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of treason, inciting ethnic hatred and drug trafficking.

According to  the lawyer Ramiz Mammadov, the   trial was closed.

According to the lawyer ,  the court formally considered the complaint , not taking into account the arguments of the defense of violation of the human rights  of Mammadov during the preliminary investigation, and the proceedings in the trial court, and dismissed the appeal  of H.Mammadov.  The court’s decision will be appealed to the Supreme Court .

By today's decision the  verdict against H.Mammadov entered into force.  It means  also the creating a legal basis for inclusion in H.Mammadov into the decree on pardon.

* Mammadov was arrested  on June 21, 2012 by the employees of the   Departmeht to Fighst against Drugs  of the  Ministry of Internal Affairs on charges of drug trafficking. Subsequently, he was accused of treason and inciting ethnic hatred.

Local human rights activists believe that Mammadov is  persecuted for his critical comments posted  by him on the Internet, such as a popular music video  " Who Are You , come on, goodbye ."  Mammadov noted that this clip  brought a massive popularity, more than a glorified Azerbaijani "Eurovision" contest,  on which authorities spent huge amounts of money. Amnesty International recognized Mamedov "prisoner of conscience.”—06D--