On May 12, the trial on the case of Bizim Yol newspaper journalist and his alleged accomplice Tavakkul Gurbanov continued in Baku Grave Crimes Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Novruz Karimov.
The public prosecutor Rahil Ismayilov asked the court to order 9 years prison term for Parviz Hashimli and Tavakkul Gurbanov.
Lawyers of Parviz Hashimli Elchin Sadigov, Bahruz Mammadov and Fariz Namazli requested acquittal reasoning that the charges are false and were not proven during trial.
Tavakkul Gurbanov’s lawyer asked time for the preparation of his defense speech and the process was adjourned till May 14, at 5 pm.
Note that after public prosecutor’s request for the prison term, tension erupted between the family of the journalist and Tavakkul Gurbanov. The judge ordered to take appropriate measures with the family of the journalist.
Background: Bizim Yol newspaper journalist and moderator.az editor-in-chief Parviz Hashimli was detained on September 17, by employees of the Ministry of National Security. Main Investigation Department of MNS launched a case against him with three articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code: Article 206.3.2 (smuggling of firearms on preliminary arrangement by an organized group), 228.2.1 (illegal purchase, transfer, selling, storage, transportation and carrying of firearms, their accessories, supplies and explosives by an organized group) and 228.2.2 (the same acts committed repeatedly).