The trial in the "Ganja case"

Baku/07.15.21/Turan: Today, the trial in the "Ganja case" continued at the Baku Serious Crimes Court. The defendants in this case are 12 accused of terrorism, including Yunis Safarov, who was arrested for the attempt on the life of the former head of Ganja Elmar Veliyev and a police officer.

Today, the lawyers said concluding speeches. The lawyers of all the defendants, with the exception of Yunis Safarov, asked to acquit the defendants. At the next meeting, on July 29, the speeches of the lawyers will continue. Earlier, the state prosecutor asked the court to sentence Safarov to life imprisonment, and the rest of the accused to 18-20 years in prison. During the trial, the relatives of the accused held a protest action in the street.

They declared the innocence of their loved ones and not a fair trial. On July 3, 2018, an attempt was made on the life of the then head of the executive power of the city of Ganja Elmar Veliyev. A resident of Ganja Yunis Safarov wounded him and his bodyguard.

After that, a protest rally in front of the Ganja administration building was scheduled for July 10. Riots broke out in the city that day, during which two high-ranking police officers were killed. This was followed by mass arrests of believers and others.

For these events, a lawsuit was initiated against 70 people. The defendants were sentenced from six to 18 years in prison. About 10 people were released on parole. The trial of Yunis Safarov and 11 others began in January 2020.-03B06