B. Mamedov: "We have dispelled the cult of Heydar Aliyev" (UPDATED)

 The verdict against the activist Bayram Mammadov will be appealed in the Court of Appeal, said the lawyer Elchin Sadigov. Today Mammadov was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of large-scale drug trafficking. The verdict was preceded by concluding statements of the lawyer and Mamedov. Lawyer Sadigov said that another court  trial on "trumped-up and politically motivated charges  is completing. Bayram Mammadov committed no crime. He just painted  on the monument to Heydar Aliyev in protest against tyranny and lawlessness," said the lawyer.  They  demanded from Mammadov  to apologize from the monument and to make repentance for television. "If he did it then there would be no trial",  said the lawyer.

The accused himself confirmed that he was tortured and made to apologize to the monument.

I am a fanatic of freedom. Azerbaijan has false notion of "patriotism", which is reflected in the service to Heydar Aliyev and Ilham Aliyev. But patriotism is not the airport named after  Heydar Aliyev, Heydar Aliyev Avenue, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation. If all this is patriotism, then I am a traitor to the motherland," Mammadov said.  The judge Eynulla Valiyev was trying to stop the defendant, but  in vain. The  PFPA leader Ali Kerimli protested, urging the court to give the accused to speak freely. The former leader of the "Musavat" Isa Gambar ironically remarked that  the judge will  better  refuse the last word.

 Thereafter, the defendant said: "We have proved that Heydar Aliyev is not a cult. We have dispelled this cult. We go to prison for our beliefs, and  there will be a time when May 10 will be celebrated not as the birthday of Heydar Aliyev, but as a day of  writing "celebration of slaves" on the monument to him. I do not regret it," said Mamedov. The judge interrupted him again, the court retired to consider. Mammadov was immediately handcuffed. During reading  the sentence Mammadov turned his back to the court. The hall gave him a standing ovation,  and  after the meeting  about fifty activists chanted in front of the courthouse: "Freedom to Bayram  and Giyas!» - 06D--

2016 December 08 (Thursday) 16:21:41

 On December 8 the  activist of the NIDA Movement Bayram Mammadov  was sentenced to 10 years  in prison in accordance with the decision of the Baku Serious Cxrimes Court.  Mammadov and Giyas Ibrahimov were arrested after they wrote political slogans on the monument to Heydar Aliyev. However, they were accused of drug trafficking on a large scale. The Amnesty International considered them prisoners of conscience. Earlier Ibrahimov was also sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.-16D--