Tofig Yagublu demanded to be allowed to speak in court

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan postponed the hearing on the cassation appeal of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu due to his intention to give a speech. The judge explained the postponement by a lack of time in the current hearing.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", on May 20, the appellate court upheld the verdict of Azerbaijani opposition figure Tofig Yagublu. The defense intends to file a cassation appeal.

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan, chaired by Judge Ilgar Gilijov, has begun hearing Yagublu’s cassation appeal, the politician’s daughter, Nigar Hazi, told the Caucasian Knot correspondent.

According to her, Yagublu expressed his intention to deliver a speech in his own defense, since the lower courts failed to conduct an objective investigation.

Presiding Judge Ilgar Gilijov noted that the Supreme Court only considers procedural violations that occurred in the criminal case and its consideration in the courts, and none of the convicted persons in the cassation instance are given the opportunity to speak before the court. However, according to the judge, He will give my father this opportunity, but not today. The judge explained this by the large number of trials and the impossibility of occupying courtrooms for a long time,” Khazi said.

According to her, the judge said that the next hearing in Yagublu’s case will be held on one of the Fridays in the next three weeks.

“In response, my father said that if the judge is going to repeat the decisions of the lower courts, then let him do it now. My father said that if the judge is even 1 percent fair, then in the face of numerous evidence of his innocence, he will acquit him,” Khazi continued.

She noted that the parties will be notified of the date of the next court hearing later.

According to her, two weeks ago, a doctor hired by the family was allowed to see Yagublu; Yagublu had Tests have been taken.

"Fortunately, the test results were favorable; what we feared was not confirmed. Of course, there are certain problems; the doctor prescribed treatment, and we brought the necessary medications to my father," said Hazi.

In the cassation appeal, the defense insists on the politician's acquittal, said Yagublu's lawyer, Nemat Kerimli.

"There is not a single credible piece of evidence of Tofig Yagublu's guilt in the case. The accusation is completely devoid of logic and common sense. No sane person would pay 25,000 euros and 10,000 manat to obtain a visa, giving not the passport itself, but a copy of it. On the other hand, the defense in court proved that at the alleged time of the money transfer, Yagublu could not have been in the same place as the "victim" and the other, fictitious "defendant." As Yagublu himself stated, a planned provocation was carried out against him," Kerimli told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

A Supreme Court employee confirmed the postponement of the hearing in Yagublu's case.

Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment.