TRIALS IN NOVEMBER 2021

26 November

Consideration of the appeal of the persons involved in the “Ganja case”

Yunis Safarov

A preliminary meeting on the “Ganja case” was held in the Baku Court of Appeal on 26 November. The accused of the attempt on the life of the former head of the city of Ganja Elmar Valiyev – Yunis Safarov and 9 other people appeared before the court. Two more defendants in the case were killed during a special operation by security officials.

In court, Yunis Safarov was handcuffed separately from the other accused. However, after the protest of his lawyer Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, the handcuffs were removed from Safarov.

The lawyers petitioned to consider the appeal with a partial judicial investigation. In the court of first instance, many of their motions were not granted, and the witnesses for the defense were not heard. However, the lawyer of the victim (Elmar Valiyev) did not agree with this, stating that the court of first instance considered the case “fairly”.

One of the accused, Mahir Azizov, was taken to court with his arm plastered. His mother, Mahbuba Azizova, told reporters that her son had a high fever, but no help was provided to him.

“In protest, he injured himself. For two months now he has been suffering, a needle was inserted into his hand. However, he was brought here handcuffed. We expect justice from the court, the court showed respect for the Armenian military, we expect the same,” the woman said.

The court, having rejected all the motions of the defense lawyers.

 

TRIALS IN OCTOBER 2021

22 October

The term of imprisonment for convicted for Ganja events reduced by 13 years

The term for Urfan Mammadov, convicted in 2018 to 18 years of imprisonment for the “Ganja case”, was reduced to 5 years, said his lawyer Ganga Ibrahimov. According to him, on 22 October, the Supreme Court considered the cassation appeal and excluded Article 307.3 (Not reporting a serious crime) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic from the charges.

 

 

TRIALS IN AUGUST 2021

9 August

The Court of Appeal rejected the complaint to the persons involved in the “Tovuz case”

Baku Court of Appeal

On 9 August, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict of the defendants in the “Tovuz case” who were found guilty of complicity with ISIS.

Commenting on the decision of the court, one of the lawyers of the accused, Elchin Sadigov, called it “illegal and unfounded.”

According to him, the convicts continue their hunger strike and for the third day, they refuse even water.

“Their health is grave. They could not stand on their feet,” said the lawyer.

On 4 May, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced: Samir Qurbanov to 8 years, Amin Hasanov to 7 years, Aflatun Bayramov to 7 years, Babek Mammadli to 7 years, Tehran Qasimov to 5 years, Javid Amanov, Elgun Ismayilov, Aladdin Ibishev, Yusif Imanov, Orhan Qurbanov and Shahriyar Jabbarov – to 2.5 years in prison.

The defendants in this case were arrested several years ago on charges of participating in the war in Syria as part of illegal armed groups. The defendants declared their innocence in any form to ISIS.

 

16 August

Yunis Safarov sentenced to life imprisonment

Yunis Safarov

On 16 August, the Baku Serious Crimes Court passed a verdict of the accused in the “Ganja case”, and sentenced the main defendant Yunis Safarov to life imprisonment.

The rest of the defendants were sentenced to: Jafar Zalov – 19 years, Firudin Zeynalov – 19 years, Rasim Mustafayev – 20 years, Akif Aliyev – 20 years, Mahir Azizov – 20 years, Hamlet Abdullayev – 19 years, Vugar Mamedov – 19 years, Jeyhun Salakhov – 19 years, Jeyhun Qurbanov – 18 years in prison.

Safarov in his last speech said that he attacked the former head of Ganja Elmar Valiyev because of his rough treatment of the residents of the city.

Earlier, the state prosecutor asked the court to sentence Safarov to life imprisonment, and the rest of the defendants for terms of 15 to 20 years in prison, having found them guilty of terrorism and a number of other crimes.

 

21 August

Arrested Shiite theologian is accused of treason

Sardar Babayev

A Shiite theologian detained on 19 October, a member of the Spiritual Workers of Azerbaijan Association Sardar Babayev was charged under Article 274 (Treason) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

On the basis of the submission of the investigative body, the decision of the Sabayil District Court of Baku chose a preventive measure in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months, said his lawyer Javad Javadov.

On 19 October, along with Babayev, four more Shiite theologians were detained. However, nothing is known about their fate so far. All detainees studied in Iran and are considered pro-Iranian religious leaders.

 

 

 

 

 

TRIALS IN JULY 2021

14 July

The Court of Appeal has left the activist of “Muslim Unity” Movement in custody

Razi Humbatov

On 14 July, the Baku Court of Appeal chaired by judge Hasan Ahmadov considered a complaint against the arrest of a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM), Razi Humbatov.

According to lawyer Javad Javadov, at the trial Razi Humbatov declared that physical pressure was exerted on him during his detention.

“In this regard, we will complain to the prosecutor’s office,” the lawyer said.

He noted that Humbatov would not plead guilty to the charges against him.

“Razi Humbatov said that he would not plead guilty. In court, he said that he was persecuted for critical posts on social networks, for a public campaign against drug addiction, putting up posters against drugs. Humbatov said that he did not have any drugs, he was a religious person and it would be a shame for him to engage in such activities,” Javadov said.

The lawyer said that the defense would continue legal steps to release Humbatov from custody and would file a petition to change the preventive measure into house arrest.

It should be added that Humbatov was detained on 7 July in the village of Jeyranbatan.

Finally, three days later, the lawyer managed to find out that on July 8, the Narimanov district court chose a preventive measure against him in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months in keeping with Article 234.4.3 (Large-scale drug trafficking) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. Under this Article, he faces a sentence of up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The MUM links the arrest of Razi Humbatov with his criticism of the authorities in social networks, as well as with his active struggle against the spread of drugs among young people.

 

15 July

The trial in the “Ganja case”

Yunis Safarov

On 15 July, the trial in the “Ganja case” continued at the Baku Serious Crimes Court. The defendants in this case are 12 accused of terrorism, including Yunis Safarov, who was arrested for the attempt on the life of the former head of Ganja Elmar Valiyev and a police officer.

Today, the lawyers said concluding speeches. The lawyers of all the defendants, with the exception of Yunis Safarov, asked to acquit the defendants. At the next meeting, on 29 July, the speeches of the lawyers will continue. Earlier, the state prosecutor asked the court to sentence Safarov to life imprisonment, and the rest of the accused to 18-20 years in prison. During the trial, the relatives of the accused held a protest action in the street.

They declared the innocence of their loved ones and not a fair trial. On 3 July 2018, an attempt was made on the life of the then head of the executive power of the city of Ganja Elmar Valiyev. A resident of Ganja Yunis Safarov wounded him and his bodyguard.

After that, a protest rally in front of the Ganja administration building was scheduled for July 10. Riots broke out in the city that day, during which two high-ranking police officers were killed. This was followed by mass arrests of believers and others.

For these events, a lawsuit was initiated against 70 people. The defendants were sentenced from six to 18 years in prison. About 10 people were released on parole. The trial of Yunis Safarov and 11 others began in January 2020.

 

28 July

“Tovuz case” lawsuit is heard in the Court of Appeal

The inmates’ parents are in the Court of Appeal

On 28 July, at the Baku Court of Appeal. The Court chaired by the Judge Ilqar Murguzov held a trial of 7 people arrested on charges of ISIS financing (better known in the media as the “Tovuz case”).

The motions of the lawyer Elchin Sadigov has not been granted.

“I have filed a motion to consider the appeal of the court partially by means of a trial. The defendants wished to testify at the trial of the first instance court, but the court denied their testimonies. I therefore petitioned to the Court of Appeal to let the defendants have the last word. And then I filed a motion that the essence of the charge be clarified to the convicts. However, those motions of mine were not successful. I also asked the Court to question Imran Velibekov who had been involved in the case, but this petition was not granted either,” said the lawyer Elchin Sadigov.

TRIALS IN MAY 2021

4 May

The court sentenced the accused of aiding ISIS

Reaction of parents of convicted persons to the verdict

On 4 May the Baku Court of Serious Crimes passed verdict against a group of 11 persons accused of financing ISIS (“Tovuz case”).

The court sentenced: Samir Qurbanov to 8 years, Amin Hasanov to 7 years, Aflatun Bayramov to 7 years, Babek Mammadli to 7 years, Tehran Qasimov to 5 years, Javid Amanov, Elgun Ismayilov, Aladdin Ibishev, Yusif Imanov, Orhan Qurbanov and Shahriyar Jabbarov to 2.5 years in prison.

When the judge read out the verdict, the defendants began to beat their heads against the glass in protest. After that, the guards took them out, and the verdict was read out in the absence of the accused.

The parents of the accused were indignant at the verdict, shouting curses at the judges and those involved in the arrest of the accused.

Earlier, the state prosecutor proposed to condemn the defendants to long terms of imprisonment from nine to 18 years.

The defendants in this case were arrested several years ago on charged under the Articles 167-2.2.1 (Illegal production, import, sale or distribution of literature, religious objects and other informational materials of religious content, committed by a group of persons upon a preliminary conspiracy or by an organized group), 167-3.1 (Manufacture, storage or distribution of religious extremist materials, i.e. materials calling for the implementation of religious extremist activities or justifying such activity, either justifying the need for such activities), 214-1 (Financing of terrorism) and 218.2 (Exercises for the purpose of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic.

The trial against this group began in February 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the hearing was suspended for an extended period of time.

The trial resumed this year, and at one of the trials, the defendants inflicted cut wounds on themselves, protesting against the unjustified arrest.

The defendants have declared their non-involvement in any form of ISIS.

 

6 May

Acting leader of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan sentenced to 16 years in prison

 

Ilham Aliyev

On 6 May 2021, the Baku Serious Crimes Court chaired by Faiq Qaniyev issued a verdict to the acting chair of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA) Ilham Aliyev.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in prison, and his son-in-law (sister’s husband) Mehman Rzayev was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Both were found guilty of high treason, and in particular, espionage for Iran. Aliyev was arrested on 19 February 2020.

Lawyer Javad Javadov said that the verdict would be appealed in the court of appeal.

“Ilham Aliyev denies the accusations. He does not consider himself guilty. In the materials of the criminal case, there is also no evidence confirming the accusation,” the lawyer said.

He noted that in this case, the first complaint has already been sent to the European Court of Human Rights about unlawful arrest.

IPA was established in 1991 in the village of Nardaran. In 1992, the party was registered, however, in 1995, its leader, Aliakram Aliyev, was arrested and convicted on charges of espionage for Iran, and the IPA registration was canceled.

In 2011, his successor as party chair Movsum Samadov and several other party members were sentenced to 12 years.

Since then, the post of head of the IPA has remained vacant, and in recent years, this post was taken by Ilham Aliyev.

TRIALS IN APRIL 2021

2 April

The Prosecutor asks to sentence Ilham Aliyev to 18 years imprisonment

Ilham Aliyev

Another trial was held at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes, chaired by the judge Faiq Qaniyev. That time it was the case against the deputy Chairman of the Islamic Party of Azerbaijan (IPA) a theologian, Ilham Aliyev. Following the arrest of IPA Chairman, Movsum Samadov, in 2011, Ilham Aliyev remained at large became the party’s de facto leader. In 2012, he was also arrested and sentenced to one-and-a-half-year imprisonment but as soon as being released he returned to the party’s leadership. On February 29, 2020, he was once again arrested on charges of treason by the State Security Service. Along with him, Mehman Rzayev, a believer, has also been arrested.

And now, at the trial the Prosecutor demanded to sentence the accused Ilham Aliyev to 18 years and Mehman Rzayev to 15 years of imprisonment.

 

15 April

The lawyers addressed the final statement at the “Ganja case” trial

A photo taken at the trial against Yunis Safarov

The trial of the attempt on the life of the former head of the city of Ganja Elmar Valiyev continued today in the Baku Serious Crimes Court.  The defendants in the case are Yunis Safarov, who wounded Valiyev, and 11 other defendants.  Earlier, the prosecutor asked to condemn the accused to long terms of imprisonment, and Safarov to life imprisonment.

Today, the lawyers made concluding remarks, who stated that the trial concerns only Safarov, and the rest of the accused should be acquitted.

“The lawyers said that there was no corpus delicti in the actions of their clients and the investigation did not prove the guilt of the defendants. This is the case against Yunis Safarov. The law enforcement agencies simply inflated the case and unreasonably accusations were brought against many people,” Fariz Namazly’s lawyer told reporters.

His client, Firudin Zeynalov, has been on a hunger strike since April 13 in protest against the falsification of the criminal case. The next court session is scheduled for April 20. Three more lawyers are expected to speak at it. In the criminal case, Valiyev and five other people were recognized as victims.

 

27 April

The Prosecutor requested harsh penalties for the accused of funding ISIS

There was another trial presiding by the judge Sabuhi Huseynov at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes. The trial was against a group of 11 individuals accused of funding the ISIS terrorist group (“Tovuz case”). Samir Qurbanov, Aladdin Ibishev, Shahriyar Jabbarov, Aflatun Bayramov, Elgun Ismayilov, Tehran Qasimov, Orhan Qurbanov, Amin Hasanov, Javid Amanov, Yusif Imanov and Babek Mammadli, the defendants in the high-profile case, were arrested several years ago but the trial began only in February 2021. The defendants initially denied all charges against them and then slashed their veins in protest and declared a hunger strike. The hunger strike was ended with the help of their relatives and the trial resumed. Thus, the final stage of the trial has been initiated.

While delivering a speech to the Court the Prosecutor stated that all charges had been proved in the course of the trial and he requested to sentence Samir Qurbanov to 18 years, Amin Hasanov to 17 years, Aflatun Bayramov to 16 years, Tehran Qasimov to 15 years, Babek Mammadli to 15 years, Javid Amanov to 14 years, Elgun Ismayilov to 10 years, Aladdin Ibishev to 9,5 years, Shahriyar Jabbarov to 9 years, Orhan Qurbanov to 9 years and Yusif Imanov to 9 years of imprisonment.

Several of the defendants’ lawyers addressed the Court on behalf of their clients and asked it to acquit them. Some of the lawyers requested time to deliver their statements.

 

 

 

TRIALS IN MARCH 2021

16 March

The individuals accused of funding ISIS have slashed their wrists and begun a hunger strike

Baku Grave Crimes Court

 

On 16 March the Baku Serious Crimes Court chaired by Judge Sabuhi Huseynov continued the consideration of the trial against 11 persons accused of financing the terrorist organization ISIS (“Tovuz case”). The accused were not taken to court. The reason is the infliction of bodily harm by the defendants at the previous hearing. Their relatives were also not allowed to the trial.

According to family members of the accused, their relatives have been on hunger strike for 14 days, which has caused serious health problems. The defendants deny the charges and demand an acquittal.

The defendants in this case Samir Qurbanov, Aladdin Ibishev, Shahriyar Jabbarov, Aflatun Bayramov, Elgun Ismayilov, Tehran Qasimov, Orkhan Qurbanov, Amin Hasanov, Javid Ahmanov, Yusif Imanov and Babek Mammadli were arrested several years ago.

The trial began in February 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the trial was interrupted for a long time. On 11 February 2021, the trial resumed but on 23 February, at the next hearing, the defendants slashed their wrists and then declared a hunger strike.

 

30 March

Prosecutor asked to convict Yunis Safarov for life

Yunis Safarov

On March 30, at the trial on the “Ganja case” in the Baku Serious Crimes Court, the state prosecutor made a closing speech. He proposed to sentence the main person involved in the case of Yunis Safarov, accused of the attempt on the life of the former mayor of Ganja Elmar Valiyev, to life imprisonment.

The prosecutor asked the other 11 defendants to impose a sentence of 18-20 years in prison.

Earlier, Safarov explained the reason for the assassination attempt on the head of Ganja by the fact that Valiyev “committed lawlessness, committed unjust actions”:

“I have lived in Moscow for many years, but I followed events in Azerbaijan from the press and the Internet. Since the state bodies did not suppress the illegal actions of Valiyev, I decided to put an end to this, because those who commit illegal actions should be punished. I sent a signal to the authorities and did it in the name of justice,” Safarov said.

TRIALS IN FEBRUARY 2021

11 February

The trial involving a group of 11 individuals accused of funding ISIS has begun

After the lifting of certain quarantine restrictions the Azerbaijani courts resumed their proceedings, including those against believers. In particular, the trial of 11 individuals accused of financing the ISIS terrorist group, known in the media as “Tovuz case”, continued at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes chaired by the Judge Sabuhi Huseynov. The defendants in this high-profile case, Samir Qurbanov, Aladdin Ibishev, Shahriyar Jabbarov, Aflatun Bayramov, Elgun Ismayilov, Tehran Qasimov, Orhan Qurbanov, Amin Hasanov, Javid Amanov, Yusif Imanov, and Babek Mammadli, were arrested several years ago. They were all charged under the Articles 167-2.2.1 (Illegal production, import, sale or distribution of literature, religious objects and other informational materials of religious content, committed by a group of persons upon a preliminary conspiracy or by an organized group), 167-3.1

(Manufacture, storage or distribution of religious extremist materials, i.e. materials calling for the implementation of religious extremist activities or justifying such activity, either justifying the need for such activities), 214-1 (Financing of terrorism) and 218.2 (Exercises for the purpose of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan Republic.

The trial against this group began in February 2020. However, due to the pandemic, the hearing was suspended for an extended period of time.

At the trial, it was first heard the testimony of the witness, Rafayil Jafarov:

“Samir Qurbanov and I lived in the village Alibeyli, in the Tovuz district. Both of us are believers, we performed namaz, studied the Koran, and often and extensively talked about the religious issues. However, I have not even heard anything about Samir being chosen as an ’emir’, as the investigation claimed.

I saw Orkhan Qurbanov at a mutual friend, Asim’s house, in the city of Tovuz and later, in the village of Yeni Surakhani in suburbs of Baku. He invited me to pray together and talk about religion. He also encouraged me to join the community but I refused to do so. There, I also saw Samir a few times but he did not tell me anything about jihad.”

While answering the questions of the Court, R. Jafarov assured that he had seen the accused people only during the prayers in the mosque, and he had just talked to some of them on religious topics. He did not know or hear anything about their other intentions.

At the request of the Prosecution, the Court read out R. Jafarov’s previous testimony given during the investigation. There, he claimed that a man named Tural had been living with Asim, and it was Tural who had been distributing the materials spreading religious extremism, and it was him who had been given the money raised to be sent to Syria. At the previous court hearings, the defendants requested to identify that Tural and bring him to justice as he was the person who had promoted religious extremism and sent out e-materials propagating ISIS. Moreover, Tural encouraged everyone to swear allegiance to Samir as “emir” of the group.

“I was told that Samir was an ISIS representative in Azerbaijan and I had to swear allegiance to him in order to join the group. I asked for some time to think about it but somehow I tried to dodge it. As I had no desire to join the jihadists I quit the sessions. So, I don’t know who swore to Samir,” said Jafarov in the course of the investigation, but he denied making that statement at the trial.

The next witness, Shahlar Salimov, explained that in Baku, he had been renting a flat and working. It was there that he had met Tehran Qasimov, Samir Qurbanov and Amin Hasanov.

“Samir stayed at our place on several occasions when he came to Baku. At that time, we had talked only about the war in Syria. And he said that the locals there had been living as prisoners, and they should have been liberated. He did not tell me anything else about Syria and he did not invite me to join any organisation. He did not tell me that he had been an Azerbaijani representative of ISIS either. And Tehran read us hadiths and ayats from the Koran over the phone. Two years have already passed, and in 2019, I had a serious accident, so I don’t remember much,” he stated further at the trial.

Then, the Court heard Salimov’s testimony, in which he said that Samir had demanded to call him “Abdullah” and approved of ISIS’ actions in Syria:

“He told me that in the city of Raqqa, the Muslims had been captured, and the ISIS had not succeeded to establish their own state yet. Nevertheless, Samir did not show me a video about ISIS, and, in any case he did not have a phone.”

Nizami Mammadov, the last witness to testify at the trial, mentioned that time to time he used to meet Samir Qurbanov and Babek Mammadli in a tea house in Tovuz:

“We were talking only about the religious topics such as how to worship Allah, how to do namaz. I have never heard of Samir’s support of ISIS, jihad, or collecting money to be sent to Syria. I did not notice his radical views either,” claimed the witness.

That was the end of the trial.