Attackers on US and British women-citizens sentenced to imprisonment in Baku

On January 31, the Yasamal District Court of Azerbaijan chaired by Judge Elchin Gurbanov sentenced four persons accused of beating of Amanda Erickson, the US citizen, and Celia Davis, the UK citizen, to 2-4 years of imprisonment.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 15, 2011, in Baku, the women were attacked. Erickson and Davis were almost near their house when they were attacked by several young athletic men, who began to beat foreigners without any explanations. According to the victims, earlier, they felt that they were being watched.

In this case, criminal proceedings were instituted against four persons. Nazim Guseinov was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment; Adil Tagizade, Roman Gasanov, and Vusal Gurbanov were sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment. The court found them guilty under Article 221.2.1 (hooliganism committed by a group of persons) and Article 127.1 (intentional infliction of less serious injury) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Elchin Sadygov, the Celia Davis's lawyer.

The victims themselves did not attend the sentencing. Some time after the incident, Amanda Erickson left Azerbaijan at all, and Celia Davis continues to work in Baku.

When asked whether the victim is satisfied with the verdict, the lawyer Elchin Sadygov said that his client stated at the trial that she was not sure that they were attacked by those people, since she did not remember their faces. "At least, we are not going to file an appeal," Elchin Sadygov has added.

According to Namik Gadjiev, the lawyer of the 18-year-old Adil Tagidze, all the defendants denied the charges: "In their final speeches, all the defendants claimed that they gave confessions to the police under pressure."

According to Namik Gadjiev, the witnesses did not confirm his testimony at the trial. "The victims themselves also said that these persons did not beat them. Davis stated that at the trial. And Erickson gave a written evidence before leaving the country," Namik Gadjiev said.

However, the lawyer has emphasized that his client really wanted to get acquainted with one of the women. "The girls said something in response; however, young people did not understand their words. After that, foreigners and young people went in different directions. Later, the girls were attacked by other people," Namik Gadjiev states.

In general, the lawyer called the verdict unfair: "Even if we assume that my client is guilty, the court should have taken into account that at that time my client was a minor young guy and made a more lenient sentence. Most likely, we will file an appeal."

The lawyer Intigam Aliev, the head of the "Society of Legal Education", believes that the motive for the crime could be intimidating foreign journalists not to write negative materials about Azerbaijan for the foreign media.