The verdict to NGO leader Hasan Huseynli in second largest city of Azerbaijan will be announced on Monday, July 14, following the final speech.
Huseynli, the chairman of the Kamil Vetendash (Mature Citizen) Enlightenment Center faces up to seven years of jail for alleged fight in the street. Police claims Huseynli has stabbed Ganja resident Arzu Gahramanov.
Huseynli says he didn’t stabbed anyone and the sole reason for this criminal case is his social activity.
Human rights activists consider the case politically motivated and result of the ongoing crackdown on civil society in Baku and regions.
The Kamil Vetendash Enlightenment Center, which is headed by him, aims at spreading the ideas of open society and contributing to the establishment of civil society in the western part of Azerbaijan. The center implements projects on strengthening public activity and leadership skills of the youth.
Huseynli is one of the leading education promoters. He facilitated programs to help youth from Ganja to get education abroad.
The lawyers claim the investigation failed to submit proofs of the alleged crime.
Lawyer Alayif Hasanov requested the court to clarify why so many documents, including the proof of alleged call to the emergency by Gahramanov, following claimed injury, had not been submitted to them yet. The court rejected the protest by the lawyer.
“I still have hopes that the judge will not confirm this slander”, Huseynli said in interview to Meydan TV. He said “no matter what happens”, he wants his students “to continue their path and always be on the side of justice as they have been so far”.
Huseynli today requested the court to postpone the trial for a week, the time needed to prepare to final speech. The judge Ayaz Mahmudov said he has only two hours for the speech. When the trial reconvened later in the evening, however, the judge postponed the hearing till Monday, July 14.
