Court fines Azerbaijani oppositionist

The court has released Emin Babaev, a member of the "Republican Alternative" (ReAl) Party, from custody, having fined him for disobeying police. Babaev himself denies the charges. Azer Gasymly, the Chairman of the Party's Majlis, asserts that Babaev was detained for political reasons.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Emin Babaev was detained on charges of disobeying policemen and was kept in custody for more than 24 hours, although the judge had postponed the trial and released him.

Mr Gasymly told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that Babaev's trial was comprehensive, but the decision was illogical. "The court had not only to acquit Emin Babaev, but had also to decide on the punishment of the chief and staff of the 8th police station, who had kept him in custody for 42 hours without a court judgement," said Gasymly, linking Babaev's detention with political motives, because, according to Babaev himself, he was questioned by policemen about the Party's activities and publications in social networks. "They didn't name specific publications, but demanded to stop 'such things'."

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 6, 2019 at 05:31 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.