Sheki Court of Appeal to Reconsider Case of Ilgar Mamedov and Tofig Yagublu February 25

The Sheki Court of Appeal on February 25 at 14.30 will conduct retrial of the leader of the movement REAL Ilgar Mamedov and the deputy chairman of the party Musavat, publicist Tofig Yagublu.

Mamedov's lawyer Fuad Agayev told Turan the hearing will be held without the participation of the prisoners themselves. Mamedov and Yagublu themselves requested to conduct the proceedings without their participation.

Recall that on October 13 the Supreme Court considered the appeal and sent the case for retrial to the Sheki Appeal Court.

ECHR a year ago upheld Mamedov’s complaint and decided to release him. The Council of Europe Committee of Ministers has repeatedly urged the Azerbaijani government to fulfill the decision of the Strasbourg Court. However, the authorities have ignored this requirement. Last November, the ECHR also upheld the complaint from Yagublu.

Recall that Mamedov and Yagublu were sentenced on charges of organizing riots in the town of Ismayilli in January 2013 and sentenced to 7 and 5 years' imprisonment respectively.

However, they believe the prosecution was fabricated and politically motivated. Amnesty International has recognized them "prisoners of conscience". -03B06-