The charge of “espionage” brought by the Iranian authorities against Azerbaijani citizen Farid Safarli has been reclassified into “intent to commit espionage”. At the same time, the Iranian authorities do not ensure the participation of representatives of the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Tabriz in the trial and do not provide Safarli with an interpreter. This was stated today by official representative of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Ayhan Hajizadeh.
According to him, after repeated appeals to the Iranian side due to the protection of Safapi’s rights, it provided information about several lawyers who could defend Safarli’s rights. This information was passed to Safarli’s family by the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Tabriz.
At the same time, Hajizadeh pointed out that the Iranian legislation does not provide for the involvement of a lawyer residing in Azerbaijan in the process.
At the same time, despite the fact that the Iranian side was sent a request about the dates of court hearings and the intention of participation of official representatives of the Consulate General at the court hearings, the Iranian side did not respond to these requests.
For this reason, it was not possible for the staff of the Consulate General to participate in the court hearings. Besides, despite appeals from the Azerbaijani side, the accused was not provided with an interpreter.
At the same time, it was found that during the court session held on 19 July, the charge of “espionage” against Farid Safarli was changed into “intent to commit espionage”.
The efforts are currently undertaken for Farid Safarli’s parents to visit their son, Hajizadeh emphasised.
Safarli’s mother Dilara Askerova wrote on facebook that her son was left without legal defence.
According to her, the lawyers offered by the Iranian side asked for very large sums for their services and the young man’s family was unable to pay them.
“I have to consult him myself. I told him to make notes under the text of his testimony, written in Farsi, that he did not understand the content,” Askerova said.
Farid Safarli, who is studying in Germany, travelled to Iran in February this year to meet a girl they met while studying together at university. On 4 March Safarli stopped contacting her. And only after almost 3 months it became known that in Iran a criminal case was opened against him on charges of espionage.