Outraged by T. Yagublu's Verdict, Activists Held Protest Action in Front of Court

Baku / 03.09.20 / Turan: Yagublu's daughter Nigar Hazi called the verdict "political revenge of the regime."

“The authorities crossed all the red lines, as for the third time they sentenced Yagublu to a long prison term.” She expressed concern about her father's condition because of the hunger strike he had started.

Yagublu severely lost his health during his previous prison term. In January 2019, he went on a long hunger strike in support of blogger Mehman Huseynov, was further tortured after a rally in October of the same year, and then underwent surgery.

"If anything happens to him, then Ilham Aliyev will personally bear the responsibility," Khazi said.

“All dictators are helpless before the peoples and everyone who is involved in falsifying the case against Yagublu will someday be punished,” she said.

The activists gathered before the court began to chant "Freedom!", "Resign!" Numerous police forces began to push the crowd away from the building.

The leader of the Musavat party, Arif Hajili, called the verdict "unfair."

“Tofig Yagublu, of course, did not commit a crime and the criminal case is revenge for his political activities. Today's verdict once again showed that legal nihilism reigns in Azerbaijan, the justice system has finally collapsed, and the authorities' declarations on dialogue are nothing more than an empty ringing. This verdict showed that the authorities are going to confront the society,” Hajili said.

Authorities have deployed hundreds of police officers around the court since morning. “The opposition, members of the Musavat party, are not even allowed to stand in the street. But in the 21st century, such an attitude of the authorities towards society cannot be long-term, ”Hajili said, expressing his conviction that Yagublu will soon be released. –06D-