First, the defendant side provided the court with the information about the role of Vusal Aliyev in the investigation, who has been involved in Savalanli’s case as a case witness. Besides, the court revealed that the name of another case witness Rahim Niftaliyev was included in the operations of two police stations at the same time. Then defendant side lawyers filed motion requesting the court to hear the testimonies of the case witnesses and police officers that participated in the operation.
After deliberation, Judge Latifa Mammadova partially fulfilled the motion: officers will testify in the next hearing, scheduled to July 19th, 2011.
BACKGROUND
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party member Jabbar Savalanli was arrested on February 5, 2011. He is being charged with drug possession, but it is widely thought that his arrest was politically motivated, linked to criticism of the government he posted on social networking sites. Sumgayit City Court sentenced Savalanli to 2.5 years in jail on May 4, 2011.