Arrested opposition leaders placed into punishment cell

Presiding judge Mansur Ibayev debarred defendants for taking part in the trial against seven opposition leaders for discourteous behavior during the trial. Prosecutor Nazir Bairamov believes the court made quite a legal decision. Public prosecutors always regarded court decision with respect, even if they were not in favor of the prosecution he added.

On September 22, the defendants insulted judges and prosecutors using unquotable expressions when they protested against the questioning of Samed Jafarov of the Organized Crime Unite, a witness for the prosecution. The court was to interrupt the sitting because of it.

Three of the defendants - Panakh Guseynov, Etimad Asadov, and Ibragim Ibragimli - were placed into a punishment sell after it, lawyer Osman Kyazimov said to the Caucasian Knot correspondent. Panakh Guseynov has gone on a "dry" hunger strike today, Mr Kyazimov added.

The Musavat Party has issued a statement in connection with the happening. The statement reads Ibragim Ibragimli, Panakh Guseynov, and Etimad Asadov were punished by Judge Mansur Ibayev's instructions. Musavat calls on the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other international organizations to interfere and put a stop to such high-handedness on the part of law enforcement agencies and violation of the rights of the opposition leaders, the trial against whom have been continuing already for 5 months.

Among the defendants are deputy chairs of the Musavat Party Arif Gajiev, Ibragim Ibragimli and Rauf Arifoglu, who is also editor-in-chief of the Yeni Musavat newspaper; head of the People's Party and ex-prime minister Panakh Guseynov; chair of the Umid Party Igbal Agazade; secretary general of the Democratic Party Sardar Jalaloglu; and chairman of the Karabakh Veterans Association Etimad Asadov. They all are charged with organizing riots in Baku on October 15-16, 2003.