On Tuesday, 21 January, a preparatory hearing on the criminal case of the Karabakh separatists continued in Baku. Once again, only representatives of two government media outlets, AZTV and AzerTaj, were allowed to attend the trial.
The session reviewed the motions of the defence side. A defence lawyer of the former ‘Minister of Foreign Affairs’ David Babayan applied for a confidential meeting with his client.The court granted this motion and a recess was announced for such a meeting.
After the adjournment, the lawyers of the majority of the defendants asked to replace the arrest of the defendants with house arrest. However, the state prosecutor objected in view of the personality of the defendants and the gravity of the charges.
Judge Zeynal Aghayev gave the floor to each defendant to express their attitude to the motions. Defendant Araik Harutyunyan said that, unlike other defendants, he and his lawyer had not filed a motion for transfer to house arrest and he did not complain about his health condition.
‘If a health-related problem arises, it is solved in the isolation centre. In general, I have not heard any health complaints from other defendants,’ Harutyunyan said.
Defendants Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Melikset Pashayan, Davit Allahverdyan asked to satisfy their petitions and be released under house arrest.
Other defendants left it to the discretion of the court to satisfy their petitions.
Note that the next court session will be held on 27 January, where the petition-related decisions will be announced.
Politics
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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the visit of the President of Somalia to Baku "will open a new page in the close friendly relations" between the two countries. In a press statement after the negotiations, Aliyev noted that the leaders of both countries discussed the geopolitical situation in their regions and confirmed mutual support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and Somalia, as well as a common stance in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
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Russia is not discussing the possibility of delivering Azerbaijani gas to the EU through Ukraine's gas transportation system, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated on Wednesday. "It is not being discussed," he said.
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On February 12, the Baku Appeals Court rejected the appeal to transfer journalist Ramin Djebrailzade (Deko) to house arrest, according to his lawyer Nemat Kerimli. The defense considers this decision unjustified, as no investigative actions have been conducted regarding Deko, who was arrested in connection with the Meydan TV case. The journalist denies the charge of currency smuggling. Representatives of the investigating authorities were unavailable for comment.
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The "Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan" has published an updated list of political prisoners, which includes 357 names. Compared to the previous list from December 12 last year, the number of political prisoners has increased by 26 individuals. Among them are journalists Farid Ismayilov, Shamshad Agha, Shahnaz Beylergizi, and 13 arrested during the unrest in Imishli, among others.
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