Trials on Guba events continue

Hearings in the case of eight people accused in the events in Guba region on March 1 this year continued today in the Guba regional court under the leadership of Zamin Tagiyev. 

According to the regional representative of the ANC Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (HCA ANC) Avtandil Mammadov, the testimonies from seven witnesses were heard, four police officers and three civilians. The police claimed that they saw the accused when they were instructed to take them to the police.

One of the civilian witnesses was a driver of bus N5. He confirmed that some of the defendants were on his bus, and they got off near the villa of Rauf Khabibov, the former chief executive of Guba region. Two other witnesses said they did not see the accused commit illegal actions. The trial will continue on September 17.

Also on September 17, nine other defendants will be tried for the same events in Guba region. 

All 17 are accused of destroying or damaging property, arson, unrest, and violence against the government.

On March 1, thousands of residents of Guba region, angered by verbal abuse from then chief executive of Guba region Rauf Khabibov, rallied in front of the district administration.  They demanded the resignation of Khabibov; the protest turned into riots, during which Khabibov’s  house and some of the support structures of the regional  administration were burned. —06D--