Tofig Yagublu's Lawyer Protests Against Attempted "Illegal Search"

Tofig Yagublu

Lawyer Nemat Karimli refused a meeting with the imprisoned politician Tofig Yagublu, whose rights he defends.

In a post on his Facebook page, he explained his decision by stating that employees of the Penitentiary Service attempted to subject him to an illegal search.

Karimli reported that on August 15, when he arrived for a meeting with Yagublu at a Penitentiary Service medical facility, employees at the entrance wanted to search him and seize some documents. However, he did not agree to the search and ultimately refused the meeting.

"During Tofig Yagublu's recovery period after his hunger strike, it was still possible to somehow put up with this lawlessness for the sake of meeting with him. However, the last time—on August 8—a clear search was conducted. I, of course, objected, after which the chief told me by phone that this was a special place, and that a search had to be conducted, documents checked, and any decision made," the lawyer noted.

Referring to the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution "On the Approval of the Internal Regulations of Detention Facilities," Karimli recalled that "censorship does not apply to the correspondence of defense lawyers of arrested persons."

The lawyer stated that the "Ismayilli events case," for which Yagublu was convicted, is currently at the communication stage at the European Court of Human Rights, which is why he needed to meet with his client.

On March 10, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced T. Yagublu to 9 years in prison.

He was found guilty of fraud causing particularly large damage and the production and use of forged documents.

He himself considers the charges to be fabricated.

In 2013, Yagublu was arrested for covering protests in the city of Ismayilli under articles 233 (organizing actions that disrupt public order, or active participation in such actions) and 315 (resistance to a government representative or the use of force against him) of the Criminal Code. By a decision of the Sheki Court of Grave Crimes, he was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

His arrest was condemned by the international community, including the USA and the European Union. In March 2016, Yagublu was released in accordance with a pardon order.