Azerbaijan: Torture and travesty of justice in Nardaran case

On 25 January, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced 18 men associated with the Shiite Muslim Unity Movement (MUM) in Nardaran to lengthy prison terms, following a trial that did not meet international standards and was marred by torture allegations. The leader of the MUM, Taleh Bagirzade, and deputy chairman Abbas Huseynov, were sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Court ordered that they serve the first seven years of their sentences in Gobustan high security prison. The sentences of their co-defendants range from 10 to 19 years imprisonment. The defendants are appealing the verdicts.