Azerbaijani oppositionist Gumbatov demands to review his verdict

A court in Baku held a hearing to consider an appeal filed by oppositionist Agil Gumbatov, who was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for injuring a fellow villager. At trial, Agil Gumbatov pleaded not guilty and requested the court to acquit him.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on November 15, 2021, Agil Gumbatov, a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. The court found him guilty of injuring with a knife his neighbour Yamen Mamedov, a resident of the village of Zira. Agil Gumbatov himself stated in court that he was being persecuted for political reasons for criticizing the authorities of Azerbaijan.

Today, a judge of the Court of Appeal of Azerbaijan has listened to the parties to the trial, and after that, at the request of Neimat Kerimli, an advocate of Agil Gumbatov, the judge gave him the opportunity to prepare for his speech and scheduled the next court hearing for February 11.

Agil Gumbatov, who have delivered his speech at the today’s court hearing, called the verdict of the Baku Court on Grave Crimes “illegal” and demanded his release, Neimat Kerimli told the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent after the court hearing. According to him, a public prosecutor insisted on the legality of the decision of the Baku Court on Grave Crimes and offered to leave the verdict unchanged.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 4, 2022 at 04:20 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.