Today, Sumgayit Appeal Court heard the appeal filed by jailed Azerbaijan Popular Front Party youth member. Jabbar Savalanli had requested that his pre-trial detention be overturned, and replaced with house arrest. Judge Azer Huseynov presided over the hearing.
The hearing was closed to the press and the public. According to Savalanli’s lawyer, they first appealed for a different judge, but the court refused the appeal.
The lawyers said that Savalanli’s right to a fair judicial investigation, enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights, has been violated.
Jabbar Savalanli was arrested on February 5, in front of his apartment building. He is being charged with possession of narcotics, which entails a sentence of up to 3 years. Police officers claim that they found 0.74 gr of marijuana when they searched him.
His supporters believe that Savalanli had been arrested because of his involvement with protests against a police clampdown during an opposition protest on January 20th at the Martyrs Lane Cemetery.
Today’s hearing was heavily guarded by police officers, who did not allow the Savalanli’s supporters anywhere near the court building.
The lawyers said that Savalanli’s right to a fair judicial investigation, enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights, has been violated.
Jabbar Savalanli was arrested on February 5, in front of his apartment building. He is being charged with possession of narcotics, which entails a sentence of up to 3 years. Police officers claim that they found 0.74 gr of marijuana when they searched him.
His supporters believe that Savalanli had been arrested because of his involvement with protests against a police clampdown during an opposition protest on January 20th at the Martyrs Lane Cemetery.
Today’s hearing was heavily guarded by police officers, who did not allow the Savalanli’s supporters anywhere near the court building.