The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld the sentence of Bahruz Samedov.

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan dismissed the cassation appeal against researcher Bahruz Samedov's sentence. The political scientist's defense intends to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on February 5, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld a decision to toughen the sentence of researcher Bahruz Samedov and transfer him to the closed wing of the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex. Samedov declared a hunger strike in protest, which he ended on February 10. In late March, Samedov told friends that he was being held in a cramped solitary confinement cell, was effectively deprived of outdoor exercise, was not receiving his medication, and had been deprived of his sources of information. In April, Samedov's fiancée, a US citizen, appealed to the President of Azerbaijan with a request to facilitate his release.

On May 21, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan considered a cassation appeal against Samedov's sentence. His lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, and Samedov herself asked the court to render an acquittal, an activist who observed the trial told the "Caucasian Knot."

According to him, Sadigova's lawyer pointed out the absence of elements or events of a crime in Samedov's actions. She also drew the Supreme Court's attention to the physical pressure on Samedov in custody, his placement in a punishment cell despite his health problems, and the unjustified tightening of his regime, asking the highest court to provide a legal assessment of these facts.

Samadov himself stated that his vision problems worsened in the closed section of the penitentiary complex. "Bahruz said that his regime had been tightened simply because he asked to be allowed to use a radio in custody. Bahruz stated that his unjustified arrest and detention in harsh conditions were aimed at completely isolating him and depriving him of the opportunity to engage in academic and public activities. Bahruz thanked all those who supported him. He concluded his speech with the words, 'Long live peace and democracy,'" the source said.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court dismissed the cassation appeal against the verdict. With the Supreme Court's decision, Samedov exhausted domestic appeal mechanisms, Sadigova's lawyer told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. Now, according to her, the defense will appeal to the ECHR with a complaint about the violation of Samedov's rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights.

A Supreme Court employee confirmed to "Caucasian Knot" that Samedov's appeal was dismissed. Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment.