The trial in the case of Yunis Safarov and 11 other people continued

Baku/23.02.22/Turan: On Wednesday, the trial in the case of Yunis Safarov, accused of attempting to assassinate the mayor of the city of Ganja and 11 more accused of involvement in this crime, continued at the Baku Court of Appeal chaired by Mirzali Abbasov. 

Other defendants and lawyers spoke at the trial, with the exception of Safarov himself. The defense declared the innocence of these persons and asked them to be acquitted. 

Safarov himself said earlier that he prepared and committed the assassination on his own in connection with the arbitrariness perpetrated by Mayor Elmar Veliyev in Ganja and his rude treatment of local residents. 

The announcement of the decision of the Court of Appeal is scheduled for March 30.

* On July 3, 2018, an attempt was made on the then head of the executive power of the city of Ganja, Elmar Veliyev. Yunis Safarov, a resident of Ganja, wounded him with a pistol, as well as his bodyguard.

On July 10, a protest action was scheduled for residents of the city in front of the Ganja administration building. On the same day, riots broke out in the city, during which two policemen were killed. This was followed by mass arrests of believers and others.

According to these events, a criminal case was initiated against 70 people. The defendants received from 6 to 18 years in prison. About 10 people were given suspended sentences.

The trial of Yunis Safarov and other defendants began in January 2020. On August 16 of the same year, the court sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment, the other defendants - from 18 to 20 years in prison. The verdict will enter into force after the decision of the Baku Court of Appeal. -30В06-