Consideration of the appeal of Punhan Kerimli has begun

Baku/01.08.23/Turan: The Baku Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Javid Huseynov, held a preliminary hearing today on the case of political activist Punhan Kerimli, who was arrested after deportation from Germany. A representative of the German Embassy also attended the hearing, the activist's relatives said. During the meeting, Kerimli reiterated that he had not committed the crime incriminated to him related to drug trafficking. The Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing on the merits for August 15.

Punhan Kerimli immigrated to Germany in October 2018 due to persecution in Azerbaijan. However, the German court found no grounds for awarding him the status of a political refugee.

In November 2021, Kerimli was deported to Azerbaijan and arrested two months later on charges of illegal drug trafficking. The Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced Kerimli to 6 years in prison. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence by one year. On May 16, the Supreme Court partially granted Kerimli's cassation appeal, returning the case for reconsideration to the Court of Appeal.

At the same time, the Supreme Court did not find evidence of "drug sales" in the acts incriminated to him under Article 234.4.3 (large-scale drug trafficking). This encouraged the defense to eventually re-qualify the charges for a milder Article 234.1 (illegal drug trafficking without the purpose of selling in a significant amount), according to which Kerimli faces up to 3 years in prison as much as possible, and he has already spent more than half of this period in prison.

At the same time, the defense will insist on the full acquittal of the activist. Human rights activists recognized Kerimli as a political prisoner. ---03b06---