Azerbaijan\'s Court for Serious Crimes passed sentence on 1 April on 15 people in connection with the June 2002 clashes between police and residents of the village of Nardaran on the outskirts of Baku. Islamic Party of Azerbaijan Chairman Alikram Aliev was sentenced to nine years in a strict-regime prison, Djabrail Alizade to eight years, Khikmet Veliev and Etibar Zakiev to seven years, and Mirza-aga Movlanov and Ilgar Abdullaev to five years\' imprisonment. Nine other men were given suspended sentences. Islamic Party Deputy Chairman Hiadji-aga Nuriev criticized the sentences as unfair, as did Azerbaijani human rights activists. Nuriev said the villagers will appeal the sentences first with the Supreme Court and then if necessary with the European Court for Human Rights. (Turan)