National Council Сalls Tofig Yagublu's Trial "Shameful"

Baku / 04.09.20 / Turan: The National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF) strongly condemns the verdict handed down to the opposition politician Tofig Yagublu and considers the verdict to be unfounded and politically motivated.

The "trial" of Yagublu will go down in history as the most shameful trial even by the standards of the time of the Aliyevs. Under the chairmanship of Judge Nariman Mehdiyev, the court defended the false accusation of the investigation, supporting this falsification.

Throughout the entire process, the defense motions were not satisfied, and the evidence in favor of Tofig Yagublu was not considered. Conditions were not even created for Yagublu to give his testimony,” the NCDF statement said.

The authors of the document believe that the head of state is personally behind the verdict, recalling his speech on March 3, when Aliyev attacked the opposition and announced the persecution of critics in quarantine. Tofig Yagublu was arrested three days later.

The arrest of Yagublu is part of the government's consistent repression.

“The government of Ilham Aliyev is trying to eliminate the real opposition. The campaign of reprisals touched members of the NCDF and the Popular Front Party (more than 20 activists were arrested on criminal charges, over 40 - in administrative order), ”the statement says.

Despite the pressure and repression, the opposition will not give up its position.

“The desire of Ilham Aliyev, having eliminated the opposition, to implement the plan to establish eternal power is an illusion.

Modern history shows that even in the absence of opposition organizations and leaders, disgruntled masses of the people can organize and take to the squares, ”the statement said.

The NCDF demands the immediate release of Yagublu and all other political prisoners, whose number reaches 200. The authors of the statement call on the international community to resolutely raise a voice in protest against the repressive policies of the Azerbaijani authorities and to take more effective means of pressure on him.

The NCDF calls on the Azerbaijani people not to remain indifferent and to demand the release of Yagublu and other political prisoners.  -03D06-