Judicial Investigation of Hilal Mamedov Case Completed

The judicial investigation into the case of Tolyshi Sado (Voice of the Talysh) editor, Hilal Mamedov, was completed on August 21. The next scheduled meeting will be on September 4, where it is expected that the state prosecutor will speak.

At today’s meeting, the defendant made a motion to show the interrogation videos of February 2007 of the MNS chief witness against him, Elman Guliyev. He was then questioned on Novruzali Mamedov’s case.

According to Mamedov, Guliyev said, that at the time, he had been collaborating with the KGB and MNS since 1973 and was ready to sign any evidence. During this testimony, Guliyev slandered N. Mamedov.

The defendant said that at the current trial, Guliyev motivated his testimony against H. Mamedov and had long awaited to "avenge" him.

Mamedov also petitioned to exclude Guliyev's testimony in regard to the falsity and Guliyev’s mental state.  Mamedov also urged the court to dismiss the criminal case and to take measures to punish members of the police who arrested him. The state prosecutor was opposed to all the motions, resulting in the court dismissing them.

Judge Orujov announced results from the physical and chemical examinations on substances found at Mamedov’s rented apartment during his detention. The examination reports that during his arrest 5.75g of heroin was found in Mamedov’s trousers pocket and another 29.94g were found in the apartment.  Lawyer Khalid Baghirov said the evidence was collected illegally. Thus, the investigators did not have the right to conduct such a search of Mamedov’s clothing during the arrest because there was no legal basis.

Expert opinions were also presented with violations. "The experts can give an opinion on the composition of the substances, but cannot claim that these substances belong to Mamedov, because did not participate in the search," Baghirov said.

However, the judge announced the investigation complete and scheduled the next hearing for September 4. Now, the trial is waiting for final statements from the public prosecutor, defense lawyers and the accused himself.

The trial was observed by representatives of the EU mission and the Embassies of France and Norway.

Mamedov was arrested on June 21, 2012 on charges of the possession of illegal drugs. And subsequently, charged with treason and inciting ethnic hatred. Amnesty International has declared him a "prisoner of conscience". -06C-