Defendants in Ganja case go on hunger strike (Video)

Baku/06.09.19/Turan: A group of defendants in the Ganja case today went on hunger strike at the trial. The reason for this was yesterday"s statement by the prosecutor, who asked the court to sentence two accused - Bakram Aliyev and Gabib Gurbanov to 16 and 15 years in prison. At today's meeting, the lawyers of the three defendants made a closing speech and asked to acquit their clients. The next meeting is scheduled for September 12. The prosecutor also asked to sentence: Mirza Huseynov - for 8 years, Asif Javadov - for 7 years, Elmira Huseynzade - for 7 years, Shahin Berdiev - for 6 years, Vugar Yusifov - for 6 years, minor Emil Mammadov - for 5 years imprisonment in correctional institution. The defendants are charged with organizing riots or participating in them, using violence against police officers. The case is being examined by the Ganja Serious Crimes Court in the building of the Sabunchu District Court of Baku.

* On July 3, 2018 an attempt was made on Elmar Veliyev, the then head of the city of Ganja. Ganja native Yunis Safarov wounded him and the bodyguard of the head of the city. After that, a protest rally in front of the Ganja administration building against Veliyev was scheduled for July 10 on social networks. On the same day, the Interior Minister reported riots in Ganja, during which two police officers were killed. Then mass arrests began among believers and others. On July 31, 2019, the Prosecutor General Zakir Garalov at a meeting in this department said that in connection with the assassination attempt on E.Veliyev, 29 members of an organized criminal group were prosecuted, 11 more were put on the international wanted list. On the events of July 10, the investigation was completed and eight criminal cases against 60 people were sent to the courts. The defendants were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment. Subsequently, the court of appeal released six defendants in the case. -30C-