18:43, 14 November 2018

Azerbaijani SC slightly mitigates sentence to activist Gezyal Bairamly

The building of the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan. Photo © Sputnik / Murad Orujov https://ru.sputnik.az/incidents/20170827/411611498/Azravtoyol-avariya-verxovniy-sud.html

A complaint filed by Gezyal Bairamly, the deputy chair of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), sentenced to three years of imprisonment on the charge of smuggling, was partially granted by the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan. The SC reduced the term of imprisonment by two months. The defence intends to challenge the case at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in January, the court sentenced Gezyal Bairamly, the deputy chair of the PFPA, to three years of imprisonment on the charge of smuggling.

On May 25, 2017, Gezyal Bairamly was detained while she was returning from Georgia. According to Azerbaijani border guards, the activist had in her belongings undeclared 12,000 US dollars. According to Gezyal Bairamly, the money was planted to her. In January, Gezyal Bairamly was included in the list of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

According to the press service of the Azerbaijani SC, Gezyal Bairamly had health problems, and she faced difficulties with movement.

"Gezyal Bairamly has repeatedly stated that she was arrested on a false accusation and that her case was of political nature," noted advocate Elchin Sadygov.

At trial, Gezyal Bairamly reported the threats of law enforcers to arrest her if she did not stop committing "anti-state crimes." The oppositionist associated the threats with her activities in protecting political prisoners, defendants in the Nardaran case.

After the court hearing, about 50 activists held a flash mob in front of the court building with the demand to release Gezyal Bairamly. "This is the authorities' revenge for her active participation in the organization of protests," said Ali Kerimli, the leader of the PFPA.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 14, 2018 at 01:20 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Faik Medjid

Source: CK correspondent