Supreme Court canceled decision of the Court of Appeal with regard to PPFA activist

Baku/16.12.21/Turan: On 16  December, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan presided over by judge Ilkin Farajev, has canceled a decision of the Court of Appeal against the activist of the Party of People's Front of Azerbaijan (PFPA) Pasha Umudov.

The Supreme Court returned an appeal against the decision of the Narimanov district court to the appellate instance for reconsideration. This was reported by lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova.

Thus, she said, the Supreme Court partially satisfied the appeal.

"In the appeal, the defence asked to acquit Pasha Umudov. For the drug-related charges were not based on reliable evidence and the lower courts did not conduct an objective investigation," the lawyer said.

Human rights activist Zafar Ahmedov statyed that the appeals court might reduce the sentence by reclassifying the charges as mild.  In this case, Umudov could fall under an amnesty.

However, the activist does not believe in such a perspective..

It should be rememberred that Pasha Umudov was detained on 16 October 2019, three days before the National Council rally He was charged under Article 234.2 (illegal acquisition or possession of drugs with intent to sell) of the Criminal Code.

On 7 August 2020, the Narimanov district court sentenced Pasha Umudov to four years and six months of imprisonment.

On 27 October 2020, the Baku Court of Appeal, presided over by judge Elmar Rahimov, upheld the sentence of the Narimanov district court.

Pasha Umudov pleaded not guilty in court and described the verdict as a political order.

In turn, the PPFA noted that Umudov had been arrested for his political activities, including as a driver of PPFA leader Ali Kerimli.

Human rights activists recognised Umudov as a political prisoner.  -03В06-