The Court refused to remove a conviction from Rasul Jafarov

 The Baku Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal of human rights defender Rasul Jafarov on denial conviction, Jafarov told Turan. He said that non-lifted conviction restricts his rights, including performing his public  duties, the election him  a member of the Bar Association, and others. Earlier, Yasamal District Court rejected the request for removal of a criminal record, and on the eve the Court of Appeal upheld that decision.

The human rights activist considers the refusal as the pressure on him, taking into account ongoing arrest of his bank account, and the humiliating procedure of a thorough search when leaving and entering the country.

A lawyer Samir Agayev said that the courts had every reason to remove convictions from Jafarov. Thus, the European Court of Human Rights found a violation of the rights of Jafarov under the  Article 5 (liberty and security of person), which means the illegality of the arrest. On the other hand, he was pardoned, that completely takes away all forms of punishment.

Jafarov was the coordinator of the campaign "Art for Democracy" and the head of Human Rights Club. He was arrested on 2 August 2014 on charges of illegal entrepreneurship and tax evasion.

On April 16, 2015 Jafarov was sentenced to 6.5 years. On March 17, 2016, he was pardoned by the Head of State. -06B-