Journalist Parviz Hashimli sentenced to eight years in prison

In Baku Court of Grave Crimes May 15 a verdict was announced against the journalist and human rights activist Parviz Hashimli . He was convicted under articles 228.2.1 (illegal purchase, transfer, sale, storage and transportation or carrying of weapons and ammunition, committed on preliminary arrangement by persons) and 228.2.2 (same acts committed repeatedly) and 206.3.2 (smuggling persons by prior agreement) and sentenced to 8 years in prison.

For the same articles was convicted another defendant on the case, Tavakkul Gurbanov . He was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison.

Earlier, the prosecutor asked for 9 years of imprisonment for both.

Yesterday Hashimli made ​​a final speech in court. He said he did not recognize the guilt and believes his innocence was proved.

"It is the Court of Grave Crimes. Here are judged terrorist thugs, fraudsters and murderers. Therefore, I demand that the judges do not treat me like these criminals. I am innocent. I proved that I did not commit the crime. The real criminals are in the MNS management. This is the chief of the Anti-Terrorist Center Elchin Guliyev, his deputy Ilgar Aliyev and the investigator Elchin Murtuzov. I know why they arrested me on a slanderous accusation and during the trial I'm not just talking about it. They are taking revenge on me for the people whom they consider their enemies. They do not limit hate for the brothers Nagiev (On the trial Gashimli repeatedly stated that he was sought to testify against the former deputy head of the National Security Ministry , now deputy head of the Anti -Corruption Department under Prosecutor General Ali Nagiyev , his brother and President of Azeryolservis, MP, Javid Gurbanov . According to Hashimli , he was required to give evidence that these persons allegedly passed money through the journalist to the leader of the opposition Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli). If it were not for the broader reaction of the local and international community to my arrest, if the foreign press would not write about me, the MNS would have killed me," said Hashimli.

Within 20 days after the arrest Hashimli was held incommunicado in solitary confinement. He was not allowed a lawyer and was provided physical and psychological pressure, said the journalist. "These generals shamelessly stated that “I will be imposed a case’ ... I had no communication with my family for many months. Pictures of my five year old daughter were passed only 40 days after my arrest ... I persevered and withstood all these horrors only because Allah gave me strength," said Hashimli .

But the worst thing, says the defendant, is that "prosecutors supervising the investigation were powerless before the MNS." "They do not investigate my complaints and petitions of torture. All petitions of the lawyers were rejected too ... It would be enough to satisfy the two motions for acquittal," he said.

One request concerns the inspection card with security cameras installed in the house of Hashimli , which, he believes , would clarify that "the weapon was planted by MNS and everyone would see how they attack my wife and daughter." On the second petition Hashimli recalled it was due to giving information to the Border Service of the citizens of Iran that passed to Azerbaijan on the day of the journalist’s arrest.

"Then it turned out there is no fictional man named Hussein who allegedly delivered the weapons from Iran. Naturally, no one passed Tavakkul the weapons and he did not bring me any weapons. If you requested to cellular operators, it would turn out that I did not call anyone in Iran and I received no calls from there," continued Hashimli, adding that this request would allow you to establish that I never called the defendant Gurbanov. "But it's a pity that the courts are not independent in Azerbaijan and the judges did not dare to meet our petitions," concluded the journalist.

The other defendant in the case, T. Gurbanov, during the trial did not even try to defend himself and agreed with the prosecution files.

Employee of the newspaper Bizim Yol, the head of the site moderator.az and director of the Center of Political and Civil Rights, Parviz Hashimli was arrested by MNS on September 17, 2013. He was charged with smuggling (Article 206.3.2) and illegal acquisition, possession and trade in arms in conspiracy of several persons (Article 228.2.1). Later he was also accused of repeatedly committing acts stipulated in Article 228.2.1. -06D –