Mamed Ibrahim Presented More Serious Charges

Narimanov District Court of Baku rejected the defense motion on October 20 for the Advisor to the Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), Mamed Ibrahim to change the measure of restraint by house arrest. The court left the activist detained.

Turan was told by the lawyer for Ibrahim, Yalcin Imanov.

According to him, the defense had good reason to ask for change of measure of restraint by house arrest. The fact that Ibrahim was charged under Article 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code provides for a maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to 1 year. This investigation did not present compelling evidence against Ibrahim in the commission of the criminal act incriminated.

However, at the meeting on 20 October the investigator said that the prosecution reclassified it into Article 221.2.2, which provides for criminal liability for committing hooliganism and resistance to a person ensuring public order. The sanction on this article provides for 3 to 5 years in prison. The investigator said that Ibrahim had resisted some Oruj, who was protecting public order.

The lawyer pointed out that the investigation of this episode is not reported.

Imanov regarded it as an indicator of the lack of independence of the investigation and its susceptibility to pressure.

The defence intends to file an appeal against the decision of Narimanov Court to reject the motion.

* The reason for attracting Ibrahim to criminal liability was the complaint by Mikail Guliyev, who left the party with a group led by the former deputy chairman of PFPA Razi Nurullayev some time ago. During the conflict between Ibrahim and Guliyev on September 29, the latter had his shirt torn. PFPA believes that a provocation was committed against Ibrahim in order to discredit the party, and the authorities use the group that left PFPA for that. -06B--