25 June 2004, 20:08
OKL activists charged with hooliganism, imprisoned
A Baku court sentenced five members of the Organization for Karabakh Liberation (OKL) to two month's imprisonment on June 24. OKL Chairman Akif Nagi and four activists of the organization, Mursal Gasanov, Ilkin Gurbanov, Rovshan Fatiyev and Manef Kerimov, had been arrested during an action of protest against Armenian servicemen's participation in a NATO conference to plan the 2004 Cooperative Best Effort military exercises.
The hearing was held behind closed doors, even journalists not being allowed in the courtroom. The OKL members were charged with offering resistance to state officials, disturbing public order, and hooliganism with the use of arms. The trial lasted two hours and a half. The OKL members rejected a defense saying they did not need attorneys.
Editors note: See also the article "NATO conference held in Baku under anti-Armenian slogans".
Source: REGNUM News Agency
