The court acquitted the accused of murder after 4 years

In an unusual turn of events in the legal field of Azerbaijan, Polad Ismailov, who served an 11-year sentence on murder charges handed down in February 2020, was acquitted after spending four years behind bars. The Sheki Court of Appeal, in a decision that highlights the complexities of the country's judicial system, released Ismailov from the courtroom, citing the fact that he admitted non-existent guilt under duress.

The decision of the Sheki Court of Appeal followed the ruling of the Supreme Court, which recognized the initial conviction of Ismailov as unfounded and, therefore, returned the case for reconsideration. The legal epic took an exciting turn when Ismailov's driver was arrested in 2020, which led to Ismailov's televised confessions at the residence of victim Seyran Eyubova in Zagatala.

An important disclosure occurred during the trial in Sheki, where the forensic medical expert Dzhabrailov, who was called to testify, reported that the traces of blood found at the crime scene did not match Ismailov's blood type. Despite earlier statements about Ismailov's involvement in the murder based on blood evidence, it was established that the accused had a different blood type than the one that was identified at the crime scene.

The key role in securing Ismailov's release was played by the persistent efforts of his lawyer Zabil Gakhramanov, who tirelessly defended his client's innocence throughout the protracted litigation. During the proceedings in the Sheki Court of Appeal, Gakhramanov accused law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor's office of bias, presenting his assessments of Ismailov's case.

Acquittals are rare in the judicial system of Azerbaijan, as MP Fazil Mustafa stressed in 2019. Mustafa said that the rate of acquittals in the country remains below 1%, which is in sharp contrast to the United States, where such figures exceed 50%. Ismailov's release reflects the problems inherent in Azerbaijan's legal system and draws attention to the need for careful study and reform.

It is noteworthy that in 2022 there was a noticeable surge in acquittals, especially in the Terter case, when 10 convicted servicemen were acquitted. Allegations of cruel torture were central to their defense, which caused a public outcry and mass actions by relatives advocating for justice. These cases highlight the growing awareness of the shortcomings of the legal system and the public's demand for accountability and fairness in the courts of Azerbaijan.--0--