Court of Appeal Leaves Taleh Khasmamedov in Custody

The Sheki Court of Appeal chaired by Imanverdi Shukurov rejected the complaint on March 6 from the Goychay human rights activist Taleh Khasmamedov for his unlawful arrest. The Court also did not take into consideration the documents submitted by the lawyer Navaid Abbasov on Khasmamedov’s disease and the threat for his life in detention, according to the Alliance Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners.

In turn, Khasmamedov’s mother asked the Joint Working Group on Human Rights to assist in the release of the human rights activist under house arrest.

The lawyer Abbasov told Turan that Khasmamedov suffering from hepatitis was treated in Iran.

Arbitrary arrest on slanderous charges negatively affected his overall psychological state, the lawyer said.

According to Abbasov, the investigation did not provide evidence of Khasmamedov’s guilt. All the prosecution is based on the words of those who spat into the face of the human rights activist, provoking a conflict.

** Khasmamedov was detained in Goychay before a furniture store on February 24. When he left the store, he was approached by an unknown man who spat into his face. Then the man fell to the ground, pretending that he was beaten by Khasmamedov.

On February 26 the Goychay court selected in respect of Khasmamedov a preventive measure of arrest for three months. Khasmamedov is known for human rights work in the Goychay-Ujar region and criticized local authorities on Facebook. Previously, he was convicted for his human rights work, but two years ago he was pardoned. -0--