Activist deported from Germany sentenced to 6.5 years in prison

Baku/12/18/23/Turan: On December 18, in the Baku Serious Crimes Court, the verdict was read out to activist Samir Ashurov, who was arrested after being deported from Germany.

The court found him guilty under Art. 126.2. (Intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm from hooligan motives) and 221.3 (hooliganism committed with the use of a weapon or an object used as a weapon) of the Criminal Code. By a court verdict, Ashurov was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.

In his last word, Ashurov stated that he did not commit the crimes accused of him. He noted that a provocation was committed against him for his opposition activities.

“I emigrated to Germany in 2018 after I was twice subjected to administrative arrests in Azerbaijan. In Germany, I continued the fight for human rights in Azerbaijan. On March 29, 2022, I was expelled. In Baku I was summoned to the prosecutor's office and threatened. Then I made a statement that I could be arrested. That’s what happened,” Ashurov said.

Lawyer Elchin Sadigov said that the judicial investigation did not prove Ashurov’s guilt. However, important defense requests were not satisfied. The defense will appeal the verdict.

**Samir Ashurov was expelled from Germany on March 29 of this year, and 20 days later he was detained by the police in Baku. He was accused of stabbing a certain Elshan Nabiev.

.Human rights activists recognized Ashurov as a “political prisoner”, believing that the true reason for the persecution was participation in protests against human rights violations. -30В03-