Azerbaijani activist Gakhramanov states being tortured

The Baku Court of Grave Crimes has begun considering the case of Elgiz Gakhramanov, an activist of the oppositional movement "Nida", accused of illegal drug circulation.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Elgiz Gakhramanov was arrested on the charge of drug trafficking on August 12, 2016. According to his associates, the prosecution of Elgiz Gakhramanov is of political nature.

The today's court session has announced the indictment, Fariz Namazly, Gakhramanov's advocate, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. According to the indictment, Gakhramanov found a package with 3.315 grams of heroin right in the street. According to investigators, the activist testified that he was going to use the drug for personal use.

However, at the trial Gakhramanov denied the charges and said that he had confessed under torture. "Initially, they demanded from me to confess that I was a supporter of Fethullah Gülen and supported the attempt of coup d'etat in Turkey in July this year, and as if I wanted the same in Azerbaijan. When I objected, they beat me up with a truncheon on my head, genitals and legs," Mr Namazly has retold the words of his client.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.