Verdict passed in Azerbaijan on massacre in ASOA

Today, the Court on Grave Crimes of Azerbaijan, chaired by Ramella Allakhverdieva, finalized the trial on the massacre committed on April 30, 2009, at the Azerbaijani State Oil Academy (ASOA), when Farda Gadirov entered the Academy, opened fire from his pistol, killed 12 persons, wounded 13 more and then committed suicide.

Four natives of Georgia - Gadirov's relatives and fellow villagers - faced trial as figurants in the case. They were accused of preparing the crime and complicity in deliberate murder.

The court has sentenced Nadir Aliev, Dzhvidan Amirov and Nadzhaf Suleimanov to life imprisonment, and Ariz Gabulov - to 11 years of imprisonment (all - without property confiscation).

At the trial, all the defendants stated their innocence; according to their version, they gave their confessions under torture.

According to the materials of investigation, this crime on the grounds of interethnic hatred was organized by Mardun Gumashyan, a citizen of Georgia. According to the inquiry, he entered a conspiracy with the defendants and persuaded them and Farda Gadirov to commit a terror act against Azerbaijanis in Baku for 50,000 US dollars.

See earlier reports: "10 participants of youth action in Baku subjected to administrative punishment", "In Azerbaijan, over 1600 persons interrogated on massacre in Oil Academy", "Azerbaijan: investigation of the massacre in Academy extended".