Yunis Safarov explained the motives for the assassination attempt on Elmar Veliyev

Baku/16.04.22/Turan: On April 15, the Baku Court of Appeal chaired by Mirzali Abbasov completed 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. At the meeting on April 15, the main defendant Safarov spoke.

He partially admitted his guilt and at the same time stated that the other defendants were not involved in the crime.

In particular, Safarov pointed out that the presentation of all the accused as an "organized group" is completely unfounded.

Safarov stated that the assassination attempt on the head of Ganja was his personal decision, and no one helped him in the implementation of this plan.

Safarov also spoke about the motives for his crime, saying that he took this step because the state agencies did not react to the arbitrariness of Elmar Veliyev, the head of the city.

He explained the assassination attempt by the fact that Veliyev subjected believers to persecution, "went into the mosque in shoes and insulted Muslims there", and treated rudely citizens who came to the city administration with complaints.

“Official arbitrariness is a disease in the body of the state. When left untreated, it spreads metastases. I broke the law, but not everyone who breaks the law is a criminal. I am not a terrorist, I did not blow anything up,” Safarov said.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and upheld the verdict. Lawyers for the defendants said they would file cassation appeals with the Supreme Court.

* 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  and his bodyguard with a pistol.

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 comes into force after the decision of the Baku Court of Appeal. -06B-