OSCE criticizes youth group members' verdict

The Yeni Fikir (New Thought) chairman Ruslan Bashirli was sentenced to seven years in prison, while his deputies Ramin Taghiyev and Said Nuriyev - to four and five years respectively.

"We note the judgments at the trials of the three Yeni Fikir youth organization members with concern. Notwithstanding the extreme severity of sentences which were handed down with inadequate notice and in the absence of defendants' advocates, the process leading to their arraignment and the proceedings at trial fell short of international standards in upholding the rule of law.

"The OSCE Office is deeply concerned that the process, key elements of which were held in camera, failed to achieve adequate levels of transparency, fairness or impartiality commensurate with international obligations and national laws.

"The OSCE Office urges the Government of Azerbaijan to take urgent and appropriate steps to fully ensure the rights of the individual during proceedings that are conducted in accord with the rule of law."

According to AssA-Irada, the group executives were arrested in August 2005 on charges of a coup plot and illegal entrepreneurship.

/AzerNEWS/