A preliminary investigation into the case of two activists of the Popular Front Party, Zaur Askerov and Gunduz Mirzoyev, accused of calling for the seizure of power, has been completed in Azerbaijan. The petition to transfer Askerov to house arrest was dismissed.
Today, the Binagadi District Court rejected the defense’s petition to transfer Askerov to house arrest, his lawyer Nemat Kerimli told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent. According to him, the petition was filed in connection with the completion of the preliminary investigation into Askerov and Mirzoyev.
“This week, it was announced that the preliminary investigation against Askerov and Mirzoev, who was arrested in the same case, had been completed. In the coming days, the case will be sent to court for consideration. Since the investigation has been completed, the grounds for keeping Askerov in custody have been eliminated, based on the fact that, if he remains at large, he could interfere with the investigation and put pressure on witnesses. Therefore, we petitioned to change the preventive measure against Askerov and transfer him to house arrest. Unfortunately, the court dismissed the petition,” the lawyer noted.
Askerov does not admit his guilt. “The charges are based on Askerov’s statements in a closed WhatsApp group*. At the same time, his posts are groundlessly qualified as calls for a “violent seizure of power.” But these are value judgments. Askerov criticized the government and noted that one should not expect changes from the current government, so a new government must be formed. This is consistent with the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the European Convention on Human Rights. After all, he did not say that the change of power should occur “by force,” the lawyer emphasized.
Mirzoyev’s lawyer Tahir Khanaliyev confirmed the information about the completion of the preliminary investigation. He also called the charges against his client unfounded.
The Binagadi Court confirmed the information about the rejection of the petition against Askerov. Representatives of the investigative body were unavailable for comment.