Human Rights Activist on "Ganja Case"

Baku / 04.03.19 / Turan: The investigation of the cases of those accused of the riots in Ganja in July last year was carried out with gross violation of procedural norms and human rights. This was announced to Turan by the coordinator of the Center for the Protection of Political Prisoners, Oktay Gyulaliyev.

He said he had met with the parents of the defendants, who complained of torture during the investigation and the absence of independent attorneys. The defendants were not even issued indictments and sentences.

The parents were also unhappy that the Ganja Grave Crimes Court held meetings in Baku, in the Sabunchu court. Many of them did not have enough money to come to Baku for the trials. In Gyulaliyev"s view, the courts were not held in Ganja to prevent mass gatherings of people in front of the court building.

In total, more than 50 people are in custody for the Ganja events.

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

After that, on social networks, a protest rally against Veliyev was scheduled for July 10 in front of the Ganja administration.

On July 10, the MIA reported on the unrest in Ganja, during which two police officers were killed. Following this, mass arrests among believers began. In total, about 60 people were brought to criminal responsibility. Another 6 people were killed while providing armed resistance.

Last week, two groups of the accused (a total of 14 people) were sentenced to various terms ranging from 5 to 8 years in prison. -06D--