Azerbaijani poet Elvin Muradov sentenced to real prison term

The court found Elvin Muradov, the author of the song about the leader of the Muslim Unity, guilty of illegal weapon dealing and sentenced him to two years and three months in colony. His defence claimed the absence of reliable proofs of his guilt, and activists have treated the verdict as politically motivated.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Elvin Muradov, a religious activist and a poet was arrested in March on charges of illegal arms trafficking. Activists believe that he is being persecuted for his poems and songs dedicated to Talekh Bagirzade, the leader of the Muslim Unity Movement.

"Muradov was detained on March 13, when he left home to go to namaz (prayer) at the mosque. For a whole day, his family had no information about his whereabouts; and he was not allowed to use the services of the advocate of his choice. Violations of these rights already indicate a biased attitude," said Arzu Abdulla, a member of the Public Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Arrested Islamists.

"They shadowed Muradov for a long time. He was detained on February 5, but then released. Perhaps, then, they didn't charge him because of the parliamentary elections, since the arrest could attract great international attention," Mr Abdulla has suggested.

Elshan Gasanov, the coordinator of the Union "For Freedom of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners", has treated Muradov's case as "political."