Nardaran Trial Continued in Absence of Defendants

nardaran-in_blockade

Summary: Hearing 43

  • • The court announced the beginning of the phase of the examination of documents;
    • The lawyers raised an objection to the presiding judge and the panel for ‘their biased approach to the case and failure to investigate it objectively’;
    • The Bar Association did not approve the defendants’ waiver of their attorneys.

On December 16, Baku Grave Crimes Court chaired by Judge Alovsat Abbasov held its 43rd hearing on the case of Muslim Union Movement chairman Taleh Bagirzade and others.
As the judge had excluded Taleh Bagirzade from the proceedings at the previous hearing, the other defendants also refused to participate at today’s hearing. The judge continued the proceedings in their absence. The defendants’ relatives left the courtroom as a sign of protest.

As the court announced the documents in the case file, lawyer Yalchin Imanov expressed his objection. “We have the right to file a motion with regard to each document or comment on them. You have rejected all of our motions. At least, let’s not break the law at this stage. After all, this case will go to the European Court,” Imanov said.

The lawyers asked the judge for time to put forward their objection. The court announced a break at the hearing.

Following the break, lawyer Yalchin Imanov presented the defendants’ waiver of their attorneys to the court. The jury refused to accept the waiver. “The defendants refuse our services, and you are telling us to represent them. How can we do that,” Imanov said. The other lawyers also expressed their protest. Judge Alovsat Abbasov said the defendants were showing disrespect to court and their intention was to prolong the proceedings.
The lawyers raised an objection to Judge Alovsat Abbasov for his ‘biased approach to the case and failure to investigate it objectively’. The court left the motion unexamined, which prompted the lawyers to lodge an objection, this time to the judicial panel. However, this objection was also left unexamined.

Lawyer Yalchin Imanov said they needed to consult the Bar Association, and a break was declared. After the break, Yalchin Imanov said they had been told by the Bar Association to participate in the proceedings.

The judge continued to announce the documents. Lawyer Nemat Karimli asked the court to deem the documents examined and let the prosecutor make his speech and the court render the judgment as soon as possible. The motion was not granted.

The hearing was postponed until 19 December, 10.30am.

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