Ill-famed youth group's trial goes public

The trial of the youth group leaders charged with attempting to topple the government and engaging in illegal business activities was opened for the public on Thursday, following an earlier announcement to conduct it behind closed doors.

"Since all the materials concerning state secrets have been studied, there is no longer a need for closed-door proceedings," said state prosecutor Shahin Rustamov.

The trial of the Yeni Fikir chairman Ruslan Bashirli and his deputies Said Nuri and Ramin Tagiyev started March 31 and has been sealed off to the public so far. The defendants earlier refused defense lawyers in protest at the decision, AssA-Irada informs.

The OSCE Baku Office and the US government have voiced concerns over the closed-door hearings. The US State Department said in a statement that this would be conveyed to President Ilham Aliyev during his upcoming visit to Washington.

The court also ruled that the movement leader Bashirli would undergo an independent medical examination. He said repeatedly during the trial that he had been beaten while in detention and is now experiencing health problems caused by a brain trauma.

A recent examination at a prison hospital established that Bashirli's condition is generally satisfactory despite frequent decreases in blood pressure.

/AzerNEWS/