Firudin Zeynalov, a figurant in the "Ganja case" appeals to the public

Baku/19.04.21/Turan: The person involved in the "Ganja case" Firudin Zeynalov has been on a hunger strike since April 13.

In his telephone address to the local and international community from the pre-trial detention center, Zeynalov states that he has nothing to do with the Ganja events. He was arrested in 2017 in Ganja after the Ashura Day ceremony at the Imamzade sanctuary on trumped-up charges of disobeying the police and hooliganism. Moreover, initially he was accused of an administrative offense and a fine was imposed.

At the time of the attempt on the life of Yunis Safarov on the former head of Ganja Elmar Veliyev (July 2018), Zeynalov was already in prison. He believes that he was involved in this case because of his appeal to the people on June 14, 2018, in which he wished "the soonest victory of the people over the dictatorial regime." Exactly a month later, he was presented with new charges of participation in the riots in Ganja. Zeynalov demands release on the grounds of innocence. Earlier, the lawyer Fariz Namazli announced the start of his clients on a hunger strike.

* On July 3, 2018, an attempt was made on the life of the then head of the city Elmar Veliyev in Ganja. A native of Ganja, Yunis Safarov wounded Veliyev and his bodyguard.

After that, a protest action in front of the Ganja administration building was scheduled for July 10. On that day, riots broke out in the city, during which two police officers were killed. This was followed by mass arrests of believers and others.

For these events, criminal cases were initiated against 70 people. The defendants were sentenced to imprisonment from six to 18 years. About 10 people were released on parole. The trial against Safarov and 11 others began in January 2020. —30D06-