A fight broke out between guests at the "Alma Bağı" hotel located on the Qəçrəş road in the Guba region.
According to Oxu.Az citing "Qafqazinfo", last winter, 31-year-old Kanan Ismayilli was staying in room 314 with his friend Mahir and two female acquaintances. In room 312, Ceyhun Najafov was relaxing with his family. At midnight, Kanan and his companions were playing loud music and using obscene language.
Ceyhun first informed the hotel supervisors. After a while, noise came from the same room again. This time, Ceyhun went to room 314 and started kicking the door. As soon as Kanan came out, Ceyhun confronted him, and they engaged in a physical fight.
The tension escalated when Ceyhun Najafov's brother-in-law, Khagani Aliyev, and other relatives joined the argument. The fight only stopped after police intervention.
Photo shows Ceyhun Najafov. The incident was captured on the hotel's security cameras, and the footage was presented by the accused.
As a result of the investigation, Ceyhun was deemed the victim, while Kanan was given the status of the accused. The main basis for this decision was the forensic medical examination report. According to the expert, the blows delivered to 52-year-old Ceyhun Najafov were stronger, resulting in a broken nasal bone. Kanan's injuries were assessed as non-determinable, as they did not cause harm to health.
Accordingly, Kanan Ismayilli was charged under Articles 127.2.3 (intentional infliction of minor bodily harm with hooligan motives) and 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code, and the case was sent to the Guba District Court.
In court, Kanan pleaded not guilty, claiming he was the victim: "Ceyhun Najafov and his relatives knocked me to the floor in the hotel corridor and beat me. They kicked and punched me all over my body. It's all clearly visible on the video. The forensic examination was conducted 6 days after the fight, and supposedly his injuries were more severe than mine. But I was the one attacked and beaten. Now they escape responsibility."
The accused requested the judge to review the video of the incident and give a correct legal assessment to this contradictory accusation.
Ceyhun Najafov, recognized as the victim, stated that events occurred as described in the investigation materials. However, he had no complaints or demands against the accused.
In the court verdict, the charge against the accused of intentionally harming the victim with hooligan motives was deemed an investigative error. Judge Nigar Khalilova explained that the conflict was initiated directly by Ceyhun Najafov, so Kanan's infliction of injuries with hooligan motives was unfounded.
According to the verdict, Kanan Ismayilli was found guilty of intentional minor bodily harm and hooliganism resulting in public disorder. He was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months of corrective labor with 20% of his monthly income deducted to the state, but was exempted from serving the sentence due to an amnesty act.
Although Kanan Ismayilli was exempted from serving the sentence, this does not mean he was acquitted. Since the court found him guilty, his conviction status remains. Therefore, he appealed to the appellate court to overturn the verdict and acquit him.
In his appeal, Kanan wrote that the victim is a high-ranking official and influenced the case. According to him, Ceyhun Najafov is a department head in one of the ministries. He now requests a re-examination of the case, acceptance of the video as evidence, and an acquittal considering equality before the law.
After Kanan's objection to the verdict, Ceyhun Najafov also abandoned his previous reconciliatory stance. Currently, the complaint is being heard in the Sumgayit Appellate Court. No final decision has been announced yet.
