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Fuad Gahramanli and others accused in Nardaran events testify in court

11 August 2016 17:00 (UTC +04:00)

Accused Abbas Guliyev testified at the hearing presided over by judge Alovsat Abbasov. He rejected the testimony he gave during the preliminary investigation. He said that the owner of the house in Nardaran where the incident took place, is his relative and they were arrested in the house when they took medicine to the old woman there.

Prosecutor Ramin Naghdaliyev asked him whether he read his testimony, he had anything with the organization and he knew Taleh Baghirov or not. The accused said he knew Taleh Baghirov, but he had nothing to do with the organization.

However, Abbas Guliyev pleaded partially guilty in his testimony during the preliminary investigation, mentioning that he, several times, went to the mosque, and also to his relative Abulfaz’s, listened to Haji Taleh’s speeches. As he accepted Haji Taleh’s views, he considered himself his supporter. Guliyev said that Haji Taleh had religious conversation at those meetings. Haji Taleh, addressing to his supporters in his speeches and sermons, said “we are Muslims, we have faith, no one and nothing can frighten us; we must fight to the end; if necessary we must fight against the current government by arms and consequently we must establish a Muslim state governed by Islamic laws; we must not obey the infidels.”

Accused Ibrahim Khudaverdiyev also refused his testimony which had given to preliminary investigation. Answering to the prosecutor’s questions, he said went to that house after his son. According to him, he did not see the interrogator during investigation, but an expert visited him. He stressed did not undergo torture but the testimony is not his.

In the testimony to the preliminary investigation, Khudaverdiyev pled guilty and said he went to Abulfaz’s house to perform prayer. At that time, there were 10-15 persons performing prayer behind Taleh Bagirov. He saw several automatic rifle on the bottom of the fence, hand grenades and knives on several unknown persons. Those rifles have been brought by Tale Bagirov’s supporters and distributed to those persons. He has taken a bayonet and a hand grenade. Khudaverdiyev said they armed to protect the religion from the state. After prayer, he heard a shout about police. At that moment, a explosion has occurred in the courtyard and skirmish has begun. Several minutes later, masked police entered the room, detained him and other persons.
AXCP deputy chairman Fuad Gahramanli in his testimony at the hearing rejected the accusations, saying he was not personally acquainted with Taleh Baghirov and that he wrote statements on social media to protest the Nardaran incidents. Gahramanli said it is not right to arrest people for their thinking.

He also rejected the charges in his testimony to the preliminary investigation, saying he had a Facebook page called “Fuad Gahramanli”, where he used to write his thoughts. He said anyone could read his posts because the page was public. Gahramanli noted that he once saw photos on social networks and in the media of some forms of holding religious ceremonies during the month of Muharram since October 2015 and that he wrote statements in that regard on his Facebook page to express his objection to what he believes to be arrogance. Since late November 2015, he wrote his thoughts about Taleh Baghirov, who he had gotten to know as a progressive religious figure through media.

Public prosecutor Nasib Bayramov said in his speech that he did not cut short Fuad Gahramanli’s speech during the latter’s testimony out of respect only. The prosecutor added that the charged need to know that everyone should respect one another. Displaying unethical behavior and going off topic is not right.

The prosecutors asked him whether he knew any of the people connected to Taleh and whether he remembers some posts by them. They asked him whether he has called people to rise up against the Nardaran incidents and defend Taleh Baghirov.

Gahramanli insisted that he does not know any of Taleh Baghirov’s acquaintances and he only remembers the general content of his Facebook posts. He added that defending Taleh Baghirov is not a crime.

Abbas Taghizadeh, one of the charged, receded his testimony which he gave during the investigation, noting that he did not carry gun.

Taghizadeh’s testimonies to preliminary investigation make it clear that he admits his guilt partially and that he knows Taleh as a religious figure whom he respects. After being released from prison, Haji Taleh stay in the house of villager Abulfaz. Haji Taleh in his speech called on his supporters and said, “Hijab is our honor, which we must defend. The ban on hijab must be lifted. We have to struggle on this way and, if needed, sacrifice our souls”. He also said, “No one and nothing can crush our will. We are not going to give up, even if we get martyred. We must put up armed resistance if necessary. We must create in our country an Islamic state that is ruled based on Sharia law.” Like everyone, he too supported Haji Taleh’s thoughts.

Another person charged, Babakishizadeh Jahad, gave similar testimony.

He reject the charges against him during preliminary investigation, saying he knew Baghirov as an open-minded religious figure.

The trial will continue on August 17.

Taleh Bagirov is charged under paragraphs 120.2.1, 120.2.3, 120.2.4, 120.2.7, 120.2.12 of article 120 (premeditated murder), 29,120.2.1, 29,120.2.3, 29,120.2.4, 29,120.2.7, 29,120.2.12 29,120 of article 29,120(attempt to murder), under articles 228.3 (illegal purchase of firearms) and 228.4 (illegal possession of firearms). Taleh Bagirov was detained by law enforcement officials during a special operation in Nardaran settlement of Baku on 26 November. During the operation 60 people were detained. The criminal case of some of them were sent to the Sabunchu District Court.

Deputy chairman of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) Fuad Gahramanli was arrested on December 8,2015.

He was brought to justice as a suspect under the Article 281.1 (public calls against the state) and 283.2 (incitement of national, racial, social or religious enmity and hatred by using violence) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.