The Supreme Court rejects the complaint of NIDA activists

Today in the Supreme Court, chaired by Farhad Karimov  considered  the appeal of three convicted NIDA activists - Uzeyir Mammadov, Shahin Novruzlu and Rashad Hasanov.

The Court rejected the appeals of the three activists,  according to lawyer Nemat Karimli. He said that the defense did not agree and submit a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights.

Consideration of the appeals of more activists - Mamed Azizov, Zaur Gurbanli, Rashadat Akhundov, Ilkin Rustamzade will be held later, said another lawyer Asabali Mustafayev.

Eight NIDA  activists Bakhtiyar Guliyev, Shahin Novruzlu, Mamed Azizov, Zaur Gurbanli, Rashad Hasanov, Uzeyir Mammadli, Rashadat Akhundov, and Ilkin Rustamzade were arrested in March and April 2013 on charges of mass riots during a protest in Baku. On 6 May, 2014, activists were sentenced to terms from 6 to 8 years. Guliyev and Novruzlu were pardoned by the Head of State  on 17 October, 2014, and Gurbanli and Mammadli - on 29 December.

Four activists Azizov, Akhundov,  Rustamzade, and  Hasanov still remain in custody. All the convicted activists of NIDA have been recognized by Amnesty International as "prisoner of conscience." -06В-