Activist told court about police violence and threats

On 3 February, the Baku Court for Serious Crimes announced the indictment of activist Nijat Ibrahim.  According to the prosecutor, Ibrahim stabbed a certain Bahman Aliyev. However, Ibrahim denied the accusations as saying that he had not stabbed anyone.

He claims the incident took place on 9 September 2024. According to Ibrahim, he approached a petrol station in Baku's 3rd microdistrict and a man came up to him and asked for a lighter. ‘He didn't even wait for an answer and rushed at me. Immediately police officers appeared. They covered my mouth and eyes,’ Ibrahim told.

He was then taken to the Nasimi district police department, where they began threatening him and his relatives with tortures.

‘They tried to force me to sign a confession. Protesting against this, I wounded myself with a clerical knife. After that, they initiated a criminal case against me,’ Ibrahim noted.

On 6 September he wanted to leave Azerbaijan with his family, but he was not allowed to board a flight at the airport. Ibrahim called the Interior Ministry's 102 service and asked the reason for the ban on leaving the country.

‘I was angry and said I would burn myself in front of the Interior Ministry. My complaint was redirected to the 19th police department. There I was asked why I want to burn myself in front of the Interior Ministry? Go and set yourself on fire at the airport.

I don't understand why I am treated like this. I am not a journalist, not a blogger. I don't express dissatisfaction with the president. On the contrary, the president gave me a house in Lachin. We were IDPs from Lachin,’ Ibragimov said.

Lawyer Zibeyda Sadygova petitioned to consider Ibrahim's complaint about mistreatment by the police. The court will forward the complaint about the investigation to the Nasimi district prosecutor's office.  The next hearing is scheduled for 3 March.

*On 6 September at the Baku airport border guards did not let Nijat Ibrahim out of the country, citing the ban of the Interior Ministry. However, his wife and two minor children were allowed on the plane.

On 9 September, he was detained and charged with intentional infliction of serious damage to health. On 11 December, the charge was toughened to Article 126.2.4 (intentional infliction of serious harm to health, by generally dangerous means, out of hooliganism).

He was also charged under Article 221.3 (hooliganism committed with the use of weapons or objects used as weapons) of the Criminal Code. Under these articles, he faces up to 11 years of imprisonment.

** Ibrahim was already arrested once in 2021 and sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment on charges of violating the quarantine regime. The reason for the arrest was his solitary picket in front of the presidential administration.