On June 17, Baku Appeal Court under the chairmanship of Jamal Ramazanov dismissed the appeal by Zerkalo newspaper commentator Rauf Mirkadirov against Nasimi District Court’s decision which dismissed Rauf Mirkadirov’s complaint against the denial of his access to the notary by Ibrahim Lambaranski, inspector of the Main Prosecutor Office’s Investigation Department on Grave Crimes.
Lawyer Elmar Suleymanov noted that defense objected to the composition of jury of Baku Appeal Court. He pointed out that these judges did not grant Mirkadirov’s complaint against illegal arrest through committing severe procedural violations. Defense also insisted on participation of deputy general prosecutor Rustam Usubov in the process who carries out procedural supervision, instead of prosecutor Vasif Karimov. The judge told the defense that Prosecutor’s Office has a discretion to send any prosecutor to the trial.
Mirkadirov speaking in the process noted that Prosecutor’s decision depriving him of an opportunity to appeal to Turkish court damages the image of Azerbaijan and is an unprecedented event in the Council of Europe region for the past 10-15 years.
For the restoration of Mirkadirov’s violated rights defense intends to appeal to the European Court on Human Rights.
Note that Rauf Mirkadirov, correspondent of Baku-based Zerkalo newspaper, was arrested by MNS employees on April 19 after being deported to Baku from Turkish capital city Ankara where he had been living since 2010. He is charged under Article 274 (treason) of the Criminal Code. Nasimi district court has ordered him to serve 3 months of pretrial detention.