ISMAYILOV: I AM SURE THE COURT OF APPEAL WILL COMMUTE VERDICT ON RAMIL SAFAROV AND WE’LL WIN
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 18 2006
Lawyer Adil Ismayilov-legal family representative of Azerbaijani
army officer Ramil Safarov, who was jailed to life in prison for
murdering Armenian army officer Gurgen Markarian in Hungary, held a
press conference today (APA).
The lawyer said it is early to say that Azerbaijani side loosed
the trial.
“Regrettably, there is a spirit of failure in Azerbaijan. We have
not loosed. We filed an appeal against the verdict. I am sure the
Court of Appeal will commute verdict and we’ll win the trial,”
Ismayilov underlined.
The lawyer also said that the judge of the trial took a biased stance
from the very beginning, but they did not react to this as the trial
was on.
“I can say a lot of examples proving biased stance of the judge. Even
in the second court session, three translators were involved into
the trial. The judge explained that the Hungarian government ensured
all opportunities for the sides as a life sentence was expected. An
Armenian officer gave testimony later on. His statements to the
final court session were contrary to his testimony to the primary
investigation. The judge had to announce a break as a way out of the
situation. After the break the Armenian officer said his testimony to
the preliminary investigation was not translated clearly. The judge
ignoring expert opinions on three forensic medical examinations shows
his biased stance. As you know, the first forensic medical examination
was done in Russian which Ramil Safarov does not know well. Therefore,
the experts concluded that he was conscious when he committed the
crime. After the next two medial examinations experts concluded
that he was unconscious while committing the crime. In this case,
the judge could commute his punishment without any limits.
However, the judge illegally did not accept the expert opinions and
got the opinion he wanted in the end,” the lawyer said.
Ismayilov also said the judge interrupted Safarov during his latest
testimony, which is unacceptable according to Hungarian laws. The
lawyer thinks the Court of Appeal will investigate law violations
committed during the preliminary investigation and court proceedings.
And Safarov will receive punishment for his deed and personality. The
Court of Appeal can review the appeal within a year.
“We hope, there will be no need to appeal to the European Court.
Otherwise, the defendant might appeal to the European instances,”
the lawyer concluded.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress