The Baku Court of Appeal examined the appellate complaint filed by Fuad Gahramanli, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), against the Nasimi District Court decision. The decision had denied his motion for release under house arrest. Fuad Gahramanli was arrested on December 8, 2015 and stands charged with making appeals against the state and inciting national, racial, social or religious hatred and hostility, and has been ordered detained by Nasimi District Court. Fuad Gahramanli filed a motion to replace the pretrial detention measure with house arrest, and on January 25, Nasimi District Court rejected his motion.
At the closed appeal hearing, Fuad Gahramanli made a speech and said the hearing was of a essentially a show trial, and that his arrest was politically motivated.
His lawyer, Nemat Karimli, said that the Baku Court of Appeal had reiterated the unfounded and unlawful decision of Nasimi District Court, and failed to make a fair decision.
Background: Fuad Gahramanli was arrested on December 8, 2015, and a criminal case was launched against him under Articles 281.1 (public appeals to violent capture of authority, violent retention of authority or violent change to the constitutional grounds or infringement of the territorial integrity of the Azerbaijani Republic, as well as distribution of associated materials) and 283.2.1 (incitement of national, racial or religious hatred and hostility with application or threat of violence) of the Criminal Code. The prosecution is accusing Gahramanli making appeals against the state on religious grounds via Facebook pages and the media. Gahramanli rejects these charges, believing that they are politically motivated. On the day of his arrest, his apartment was searched and his computer was seized.