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Rasul Jafarov, a well-known human rights defender, “Art for Democracy” campaign organizer, was sentenced to 6.5 years’ imprisonment in Azerbaijan. The verdict was brought in by the judge Eldar Ismayilov in the Baku court of grave crimes on April 16. Jafarov is banned taking up any post for three years after his release, Azerbaijani information agency Turan reports. 

According to the article, after the verdict was announced, Jafarov said he considered it to be trumped up and politically motivated. The court did not prove any of the charges brought against the human rights defender. All of the prosecution witnesses testified in favor of the human rights defender, and the process actually proved his complete innocence. 

Following his arrest Jafarov said that he was persecuted as he continuously focused attention on the issue of political prisoners, held protests during the PACE session in Strasburg where Ilham Aliyev was present, urged to boycott the European Games, the article reads.

Anastasia Miller, a human rights defender from the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), who had observed the process, told the Turan correspondent that the trial of the human rights defender Rasul Jafarov was featured by violations of international standards regarding the protection of the human rights.

“According to the international standards, openness, publicity and transparency of a trial are crucial to be provided. However, many of those wishing were not able to get into the hearings for there was not enough space in the hall. In spite of having a larger hall in the Baku court of grave crimes, the process was held in a smaller room,” Miller said.

According to the article, Miller also pointed to the judges’ refusal of a numerous requests to turn on speakers in the hall to be able to normally listen to those speaking. It created difficulties for the observers, as well. She also highlighted the court’s refusal to allow audio, video recordings and photoshoots.

Miller was not allowed to take a photo of Jafarov even during the break of the trial. The court bailiffs took away her camera and gave it back only after the trial, the publication reads.

“I did not see any evidence of guilt. The complainants declared that they had not suffered any damage and did not consider themselves as such. The lawyers showed the fiscal documents confirming the use of the grants for the intended purpose,” the human rights defender said.

Summing up her observation of the process she came to believe Jafarov was persecuted for his human rights activities, the publication reads.

Rasul Jafarov is an Azerbaijani human rights activist, who in December 2012 launched a campaign "Art for Democracy," calling on young people to stand up for justice through the arts, and not through violence. He was arrested on August 2, 2014 on charges of illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion and abuse of power – charges he denies. The international human rights organizations Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemned Rasul Jafarov’s arrest. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience.

Moreover, in 2014, spokespersons of EU commissioners Catherine Ashton and European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule made a joint statement expressing their concern over the arrest of another well-known human rights defender in Azerbaijan, Rasul Jafarov.

Earlier, during a PACE session in Strasburg Rasul Jafarov and several other human rights activists made a report on political prisoners in Azerbaijan. At the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE in Baku, Jafarov and other activists held a public hearing on civil society issues. Both of these events have caused a backlash in Baku. 

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