Case History: Emil Mamedov
On 26 September 2014, the Lankaran Court of Grave Crimes found human rights defender Mr Emil Mamedov guilty of extortion under Article 182.2.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan and ruled on his two year suspended sentence. The human rights defender was released from custody the same day.
Emil Mamedov is the head of the regional NGO 'Promotion of Democracy', one of the most active civil society institutions in the southern region of Azerbaijan. The human rights defender has repeatedly publicised cases on corruption within the local authorities, and defended the civil rights of local residents. The NGO has also been involved in civil society monitoring of the mining industry's activities.
On 12 June 2014, at 3pm, the Salyan Regional Court of Azerbaijan rejected a request to transfer human rights defender Mr Emil Mamedov from administrative detention to house arrest. The human rights defender, who denies all accusations, faces between three and five years of imprisonment if convicted of the charges of repeated extortion under Article 182.2.2 of the Criminal Code.
Emil Mamedov is the head of the regional NGO 'Promotion of Democracy', one of the most active civil society institutions in the southern region of Azerbaijan. The human rights defender has repeatedly publicised cases on corruption within the local authorities, and defended the civil rights of local residents. The NGO has also been involved in civil society monitoring of the mining industry's activities.
The court decision arises out of an appeal submitted on 12 June 2014 against the order issued by the same court on 14 May 2014 to place the human rights defender under three months' detention. The day before, on 13 May 2014, human rights defender had been detained on suspicion of extortion, on the basis of testimonies of three local authorities against him. Emil Mamedov denies the charges, stating that he is being prosecuted for exposing the corruption of local authorities.
