Azerbaijani teacher, poet and civic activist Bahman Nasirzadeh had previously been acquitted on charges of “spreading lies and slander”, but the civil activist’s case was reopened with protests from the Mako Border Troops Commander.
The commander of the Mako Border Regiment, Shirzad Hajizadeh, appealed against Mr Nasirzadeh’s acquittal and the case was reopened by the Second Division of the Criminal Court.
Mr Nasirzadeh had previously been detained at his home by Mako security agents on 1 June 2010 and spent several months in pre-trial detention and solitary confinement.
Following Mr Nasirzadeh’s arrest, security agents searched his home and confiscated his video camera, CDs, books, poems and manuscripts.
On the same date, after Mr Nasirzadeh’s family, Mako court and security officials refused to take responsibility for the arrest of the civil activist and said they were unaware of his whereabouts.
