Decision on Gezal Bayramli Case Postponed for April 2 (updated)

Baku / 12.03.18 / Turan: The appeal court's decision on the case of Gezal Bayramli was postponed to April 2.

Today, in the Ganja Court of Appeal, under the chairmanship of Judge Teyyub Mukhtarov, an appeal of the Deputy Chairman of the Popular Front Party Gezal Bayramli was considered.

As lawyer Elchin Sadigov told Turan, he asked the court to stop the criminal case on justifiable grounds.

Bayramli also rejected all the charges, calling them a political order. "In my place should sit those who appropriated billions from the state budget. Why the former Ministers of National Security and Taxes who stole billions should not sit on this bench? And why should I sit here?" Bayramli said. The judge interrupted Bayramli's speech several times.

The verdict is scheduled for today at 16:00.

* Let us recall that Bayramli was detained on May 25, 2017 at the border checkpoint upon her return from Georgia. A criminal case was opened against her in accordance with Article 206.1 (smuggling) of the Criminal Code and the court arrested her.

According to the investigation, during the inspection of Bayramli"s baggage 12 thousand US dollars, which she allegedly did not declare, was found.

Bayramli said the money was put to her baggage, and her arrest is of a customized political nature. She also stated that she went to Georgia for treatment and for the last two years she underwent surgery there. On January 23, the court sentenced her to 3 years in prison. The verdict was condemned by the US State Department, PACE representatives, and international human rights organizations. -03B06-