The trial of Zaur Askerov and Gunduz Mirzoyev, accused of openly calling for a violent change in the constitutional order in Azerbaijan, the murder of officials, civil war and other criminal actions, has begun, the Report publication reported today.
The personal data of the accused was clarified during the trial chaired by Judge Azer Taghiyev. When checking the personal data, it was established that Askerov did not finish high school, does not know how to read and write in Latin, and Mirzoyev had previously been sentenced to three years of probation on charges of invading parliament in 2020.
Asgarov’s lawyer Neymat Karimli filed a motion asking to place his client under house arrest. The court did not grant this motion, but allowed Askerov to sit next to his lawyers during the trial. Mirzoyev’s lawyer also asked to release his client under house arrest, but the prosecutor opposed this, and the court supported the prosecutor, refusing to grant the motion, Oxu.Az writes.
The next court hearing is scheduled for May 15.
His posts are unreasonably qualified as calls for a violent seizure of power.
Zaur Askerov previously stated that he does not plead guilty. “The charges are based on Askerov’s statements in a closed WhatsApp group*. His posts are unreasonably qualified as calls for a “violent seizure of power.” But these were value judgments. Askerov criticized the government and noted that one should not expect changes from the current government, therefore a new government must be formed. But this fits into the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of Azerbaijan and the European Convention on Human Rights. He did not say that the change of power should occur “by force,” the defendant’s lawyer emphasized.