04 June 2019, 22:08
Azerbaijani SC softens verdict to oppositionist Bakhyshly
The prison term of Orkhan Bakhyshly, a young activist of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), has been halved by the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 18, 2018, Orkhan Bakhyshly, arrested on charges of illegal drug dealing, was sentenced to six years in prison. The defence appealed against the verdict, demanding to acquit the activist.
Today, the Azerbaijani SC has partially satisfied the cassation complaint lodged by Bakhyshly and re-qualified the charge against him from Article 234.4.3 (large-scale drug trafficking) to 234.1 (illegal acquisition, storage, manufacture, processing and transportation of drugs without the sale purpose) of the Criminal Code, and reduced his prison term down to three years.
Orkhan Bakhyshly had actively participated in protest actions. He was prosecuted under the article on drug dealing three days after his speech at the grave of the journalist, Elmar Guseinov, in which he placed responsibility for Elmar's murder on the authorities of Azerbaijan.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on June 4, 2019 at 05:19 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Faik Medzhid Source: CK correspondent
