Businessmen arrested in NAR are charged under the new Article

Preliminary investigation in Nakhchivan completed the case of the businessman Mohammed Gurbanov and his son-in-law Nadir Mammadov.

In addition to Article 315 (resistance to authority), they presented new charges under Article 221 (hooliganism). Khalid Bagirov, the lawyer of the arrested, said at a press conference in the office of the party "Musavat", declared unfounded prosecution.

On December 8, two aforementioned entrepreneurs brought goods  from Turkey to Nakhchivan. At customs they were told to pay 40 gepik bribe per kilogram. Employers refused to pay  bribe, and  invited journalists. However,  more than 10 customs officers attacked them and beat journalists, took away their photo and video cameras, and businessmen were arrested and charged with assault on the authorities. Later  a lawsuit was filed against them. 

Commenting on the new charges, the lawyer said that  according to investigation  Mamedov scratched with a knife  hand  of the worker at the customs.

After the arrest Mamedov was made  give evidence that journalists ILgar  Nasibov and Elman Abbasov specially persuaded him to beat customs officers, so they shot it on video.

However arrested at a meeting with lawyers rejected the testimony,  and said that he was tortured.

The lawyer  told about  very bad human rights situation in Nakhchivan. Because of the lack of attention of the democratic community of the country, local government practice of arbitrariness and lawlessness. He  called on politicians, civil society activists and journalists to visit Nakhchivan  more often, and pay attention to human rights.

Bagirov said that the use of torture against his clients stopped only after he began to  protect prisoners on December 24, because local  lawyers are not able to claim compliance with the law. Bagirov said that  he  filed 17 motions in connection with the  lawsuit due to numerous violations.

Deputy Chairman of the Popular Front, Asef Guliyev, also stated the need  for greater attention to local and international community to the problems of the NAR. He considers necessary opening of offices of international organizations to monitor the situation with the rights of prisoners by the representatives of the ICRC.

PPFA and "Public Chamber" recognized Mamedov and Gurbanova political prisoners because their prosecution began  six days after joining the regional office of "Public Chamber". In addition, these people has always actively defended their rights. -06C-