Main witness gives testimony at the trial in the case of Hilal Mammadov

The trial  in the case of chief editor of "Tolyshi sado", Hilal Mammadov, took place today  in the Baku Serious Crimes Court; as previous trials it was also held behind the closed doors.

According to  the lawyer Khalid Bagirov, at today’s  trial the main witness Elman Guliyev gave testimony against H.Mamedov.

This man gave evidences  in the case of the previous chief editor of "Tolyshi sado", Novruzali Mamedov,  and was convicted with him to six years in prison and has just been released from prison after serving a full sentence. While still in prison in June 2012, he testified against H.Mamedov. It is noteworthy that in the trial of Mammadov,  Guliyev said he did not know H.Mammadov.

Now he claims that  he  was aware about the illegal actions of H.Mammadov. In addition, Guliyev said that in 2006 he talked over five hours with H.Mammadov, and he allegedly campaigned for his involvement in  the anti-state activities.  Guliyev called two witnesses of his meeting with H.Mammadov -  the poet Ali Nasser and  Atakhan Abilov.

However, as a lawyer said, neither Nasser nor  Guliyev who is currently in exile in the Netherlands, did not support Abilov.

 H.Mammadov  himself called on  the testimonies of  Guliyev as statements of the mentally ill person.

The next hearing will take place on March 13.

Hilal Mammadov, arrested  on June 21, 2012 is charged  under three  Articles, including  high treason, illegal possession of drugs and inciting ethnic hatred. However, the international community and local human rights activists consider him a prisoner of conscience. Using fabricated treason charges,  the authorities hold a close trial.—06B—