The preparatory hearing on Ismayilli events took place without the participation of the press and human rights defenders

Today in Sheki the Court of Grave Crimes chaired by Rashid Huseynov, started a preparatory meeting on the January 23-24, Ismayilli events.

In spite of an open trial, entrance to the hall was barred for journalists, human rights defenders, opposition activists and even many of the relatives of the accused. This was motivated by the limited number of seats.

However earlier, lawyers petitioned to carry out the process in a large room outside the court in view of the increased interest in the case.

About 200 people that had arrived from Baku and Ismayilli, waited for five hours, standing  in the street.

Judging by the screams and noise coming from the courtroom, the meeting took place in an emotionally charged atmosphere.

After the hearing, the lawyer of the leader of the REAL Ilgar Mamedov,  Khalid Bagirov called the trial "a shameful show."

According to him, the hall was so crowded that the defendants hardly saw the judge due to the iron cage.

During the case, some of the accused became ill.

Ilgar Mamedov and deputy chairman of Musavat, Tofig Yagublu called on Ilham Aliyev, given the political nature of the process, to release others accused.

Lawyers petitioned for conducting a video of the trial, but the judge categorically rejected the proposal.

Next lawyers of Mamedov and Yagublu petitioned to dismiss the criminal case and to change the measure of restraint, as well as carrying out the process in a spacious room .

Bagirov said that if the last petition is not satisfied, the lawyers refuse to participate in the process.

He also drew attention to the fact that the term of detention  had expired for Mammadov and  further detention is was illegal.

A preparatory meeting will be continued at 11.00 am on November 5.

On January 23-24 in Ismayilli,  riots occurred in connection with the bullying of the Chirag hotel manager and incidents involving the nephew of the Chief Executive, who then insulted the local population. A group of residents set fire to the hotel and in his yard were foreign cars.

The next day, the locals began to protest, demanding the resignation of the district. Later the action escalated into clashes with security forces.

Mamedov and Yagublu arrived in Ismayilli on January 24 to review the situation when the riots were going down.

Later, they were arrested and charged under articles: 220.1 (organization of mass disorders) and 315.2 ( resisting police with violence) .

The international community has recognized Mamedov and Yagublu as prisoners of conscience and repeatedly called for their immediate release. The authorities have ignored all these calls. Besides Mamedov and Yagublu before the Court there are also sixteen others -16D-