Trial over participants of "Karabakh action" started in Baku

Baku/23.02.21/Turan: The Sabail District Court, chaired by Agamali Gafarov, began  considation a criminal case in connection with the rally in support of the army in Baku on July 14-15 last year. 37 people are accused in the case, including 16 activists of the Popular Front Party, 2 - Movement "Muslim Unity" and 1 member of the Movement for Democracy and Prosperity.

Among the defendants is the former deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) Siyavush Mustafayev; 22 citizens were recognized as victims in the case.

Due to the large number of defendants, the  trial is being held in the building of the Baku Court of Appeal. At the beginning of the session, the lawyers petitioned to terminate the criminal proceedings. None of the defendants pleaded guilty.

“The criminal case is related to our political activities. The lawsuit is part of a pressure campaign against us. This is a political show,” said Asif Yusifli, a member of the PFPA Presidium.

Another member of the presidium of this party, Mamed Ibrahim, noted that after his release from custody, he was put on an electronic bracelet, which is very heavy and creates anxiety. The defense petitioned to replace the bracelets with lighter ones. The trial will continue tomorrow.

The defendants were charged under  the following Articles  of the  Criminal Code: 127 (intentional infliction of light bodily harm), 186 (damage or destruction of other people's property), 233 (violation of public order) and 315 (use of force against a police officer). These articles provide for imprisonment for up to 7 years.

* The action on July 14-15, 2020 was spontaneous and tens of thousands of people took part in it, who marched through the streets of Baku all night, demanding that the authorities start a war in Karabakh. The reason for this was the attack of Armenians and the murder of several Azerbaijani soldiers in Tovuz on July 12.

A group of protesters broke into the parliament building, after which arrests began. At the same time, the official propaganda accused the PFPA of using the situation for political purposes.

After the end of the Second Karabakh War in November 2020, the preventive measure for those arrested was changed and they were released from custody. –03B06-