The Court of Appeal refused to release the paralyzed convict

Baku / 27.09.18 / Turan: The Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict against members of the movement "Muslim Unity" Elkhan Iskenderov and Abulfaz Bunyadov, who was paralyzed after being wounded by law enforcers during a special operation in Nardaran.

Bunyadov was detained during a special operation in Nardaran in November 2015 against activists of the movement "Muslim Unity" headed by Tale Bagirzade. However, the measure of restraint was later changed to police supervision.

Nevertheless, Iskenderov was put on the wanted list and arrested a year later. On July 11, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced Bunyadov to 15 years in prison. The paralyzed defendant was taken into custody in the courtroom and carried away on a stretcher. Iskenderov was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Consideration of the appeal against the sentence of Bunyadov and Iskenderov, was completed in the Baku Court of Appeal on September 26.

Bunyadov refused to participate in court hearings, since it is painful for him when he is sent to court on a stretcher, the lawyer said. The defense insisted on stopping the criminal prosecution of the accused on justifiable grounds.

"These people are accused of attempting a coup, calling for terror, inciting religious hatred, illegal storage of ammunition and other serious crimes, but there is no reliable evidence of their guilt in the case," lawyer Fariz Namazli said during the trial of the appellate court.

The defense considers illegal the submission of the movement "Muslim Unity" as a "terrorist organization", a "criminal community" only on the grounds that it operated without state registration. For many NGOs in Azerbaijan operate without registration.

However, the appellate court did not heed the arguments of the defense and left the verdict in force. A cassation appeal will be filed against this decision. -16D--