22 May 2004, 15:16
Arrested opposition leaders refuse to take part in court sitting
The trial against leaders of opposition parties charged with organizing riots after the presidential election in October 2003 continues in Baku. The prisoners at the bar are leaders of the opposition Musavat party, Democratic Party and People's Party.
Deputy chairs of the Musavat party, Rauf Arifoglu and Arif Gadjily, refused to take part in the trial on May 21, at the very beginning of the court session. They said the trial could go on without their participation, therefore they would not leave the Bailovskaya prison. Then all the seven defendants stood up and stated they wanted to leave the court room.
The defendants explained their actions by the refusal of the court to satisfy their numerous petitions concerning the holding of the preliminary hearing.
Source: REGNUM News Agency
