Court Review: May 25–26, 2026

Court proceedings involving politicians, civil society representatives, and journalists

1) On May 25, the next hearing in the case of Mehriban Rahimli, Azerbaijan adviser to the German Marshall Fund (GMF), was held at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Namiq Karimov.

At the hearing, NGO chairman Hafiz Hasanov testified as a witness. H. Hasanov refused to confirm the testimony he had given during the preliminary investigation and added that there had been no illegal actions in his professional relations with M. Rahimli. Afterwards, H. Hasanov stated that a criminal investigation concerning himself was also under judicial review and refused to answer questions from the judge and the state prosecutor.

Witness A. Panjaliyeva then gave testimony.

M. Rahimli also addressed the hearing, stating that she had two official bank accounts: one of them was used to receive her salary from GMF, while the other was used for family budget purposes. She added that she had no other bank accounts either in Azerbaijan or abroad.

The proceedings will continue on June 8.

2) On May 25, the next hearing in the case of human rights defender Anar Mammadli and human rights activist Anar Abdulla was held at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Aygun Gurbanova.

First, A. Abdulla’s lawyer, Gunay Ismayilova, filed a motion stating that A. Abdulla’s mother suffers from schizophrenia and has been hospitalized at the Republican Psychiatric Hospital since May 6. She requested that the court send an inquiry to the hospital regarding the submission of related documents. Although the state prosecutor objected, the motion was ultimately granted.

Afterwards, a motion requesting that A. Abdulla be released under house arrest was filed, but it was rejected.

Later, A. Mammadli’s lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, filed several motions requesting the removal of the seizure placed on A. Mammadli’s vehicle, inquiries to donor organizations from which A. Mammadli had received grants, the submission to the court of A. Mammadli’s customs declarations for 2014–2024, and the removal of several motions from the criminal case materials. The court rejected the motion regarding customs declarations, while consideration of the others was postponed until the examination of documents.

The court hearing will continue on June 8 with the examination of documents.

3) On May 25, another hearing in the “Toplum TV case” was held at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes.

During the hearing, Judge Azer Taghiyev announced the completion of the judicial investigation and intended to give the floor to the state prosecutor. However, Akif Gurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI) and speaker of the Third Republic Platform, objected, stating that he had several important motions.

A. Gurbanov stated that his speeches had been distorted or omitted in the court records and filed a motion requesting corrections to the transcripts. He also stated that technical equipment seized during searches of the defendants’ homes and office had not been properly recorded in the criminal case and requested that they be removed from the list of evidence.

In another motion, A. Gurbanov requested that several officials be summoned and questioned in court.

The court rejected the motions.

The next court hearing was scheduled for June 8.

4) On May 25, a hearing on the appeal filed by detained social worker Zamin Zaki within the framework of the “NGO case” was held at the Baku Court of Appeal.

During the preparatory hearing, Z. Zaki’s personal details were clarified. The case was then referred for judicial examination.

5) On May 26, a court hearing in the case of Samira Gasimli was held at the Yasamal District Court under the chairmanship of Judge Rauf Dashdemirov.

The complaint filed by Gurabali Yusibov, recognized as a victim in the case of Azer Gasimli, to the Binagadi District Court under the procedure of private prosecution had been transferred last month to the Yasamal District Court by court decision.

At the preparatory hearing chaired by Judge R. Dashdemirov, S. Gasimli’s personal details were first clarified.

The judge then stated that according to the decision of the Plenum of the Supreme Court on judicial practice in cases concerning private prosecution complaints, such cases must be considered according to the place where the incident occurred. Although S. Gasimli herself stated that the relevant Facebook posts had been written from her apartment in Yasamal, there is no concrete evidence of this and the matter remains disputed.

According to the judge’s ruling, the case was sent to the Baku Court of Appeal for a decision regarding consideration of the disputed episode and the appointment of the court hearing.

6) On May 26, a verdict was delivered against religious activist Elshan Guliyev at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes.

E. Guliyev was sentenced to four years of imprisonment.

The charge against E. Guliyev under Article 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code (illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, and sale of large quantities of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by a group acting in prior conspiracy for the purpose of sale) was reclassified under Article 234.1-1, thereby removing the element of “intent to sell” from the accusation.

In his final statement, E. Guliyev pleaded not guilty and stated that the charges were fabricated.

Elshan Guliyev was detained by police last August at the “Sadarak” shopping center where he worked.

Court proceedings related to corruption and state bodies

1) On May 25, a hearing in the criminal case against Murad Bagirov, Rasmiyya Guliyeva, and Khayala Ismayilova, accused of violations committed at the “UGUR 777 aesthetic center” operating in Baku, was held at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Fakhri Mammadov.

At the hearing, the state prosecutor announced the indictment.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

The next court hearing was scheduled for June 9.

According to the indictment, substantial suspicions were established that Khayala Ismayilova, Murad Bagirov, Firuze Aliyeva, Gulbada Abdullayeva, Zaira Salmanova, and others, who presented themselves as cosmetologist doctors at the “UGUR 777 aesthetic center,” caused serious harm to the health of various individuals as a result of aesthetic surgical procedures performed on different parts of their bodies.

Khayala Ismayilova, Murad Bagirov, Rasmiyya Guliyeva, and Khayala Ismayilova were charged under Articles 131.2 (causing serious harm to health by negligence), 309.2 (abuse of official authority resulting in serious consequences), 314.2 (negligence resulting in serious consequences), and other articles of the Criminal Code.

2) On May 25, the judicial investigation in the criminal case against persons accused of producing and selling technical devices intended for use in university entrance and graduation examinations was completed at the Ganja Court for Grave Crimes.

According to the verdict, defendant Islam Babayev was sentenced to one year and six months of imprisonment.

Aykhan Mammadov and Murad Mammadov received sentences restricting their freedom.

Islam Babayev, Aykhan Mammadov, and Murad Mammadov had been charged under Articles 302.3 (illegal sale and acquisition for sale of technical devices intended for secretly obtaining information) and 308.1 (abuse of official powers) of the Criminal Code.

3) On May 25, proceedings continued at the Ganja City Court under the chairmanship of Judge Elchin Mammadov in the criminal case concerning the illegal transfer of technical devices into graduation and entrance examinations.

At the hearing, defendants Kamran Asadov and Gunduz Abbasov testified.

The state prosecutor, judge, and representatives of the State Examination Center stated that contradictions existed in their testimonies.

Representatives of the State Examination Center filed motions requesting the questioning of additional witnesses during the hearing.

The proceedings will continue on June 11.

Gunduz Abbasov was charged under Articles 302.3 (illegal sale and acquisition for sale of technical devices intended for secretly obtaining information) and 308.1 (abuse of official powers) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Kamran Asadov was charged under Articles 302.3 and 32.5, 308.1 (complicity in abuse of official powers), while Sanan Huseynov was charged under Article 302.3 of the same Code.

4) On May 25, state prosecutor delivered arguments during the trial of former head of the Financial and Technical Support Department of the Azerbaijan Chamber of Auditors Vali Rahimov, accountant Govhar Ahmadova, and auditor Farida Novruzova at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Elnur Nuriyev.

In his speech, the state prosecutor requested that each of the defendants — Govhar Ahmadova, Farida Novruzova, and Vali Rahimov — be sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment, and that proceedings under Article 313 of the Criminal Code against V. Rahimov be terminated due to the expiration of the statute of limitations for criminal liability.

Defense lawyers requested additional time for their arguments. The next hearing was scheduled for June 8.

5) On May 25, a verdict was announced at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Azer Taghiyev in the criminal case against Eyvaz Niftaliyev and Ramis Hummatov, accused of bribery, fraud, and other serious crimes.

The court sentenced Eyvaz Niftaliyev to 10 years and Ramis Hummatov to 9 years of imprisonment, while postponing the execution of R. Hummatov’s sentence until his child reaches the age of 14.

Ramis Hummatov had worked as a senior research employee in the department dealing with natural resources at the Ministry of Defense Industry.

Eyvaz Niftaliyev had worked as a teacher in the Shamakhi district and had previously been convicted of fraud.

6) On May 26, a verdict was announced at the Khatai District Court against Simuzar Pashayeva, head of Kindergarten No. 202 in Baku, and Ganira Kazimova, deputy head for хозяйственные affairs, who were accused of embezzling a significant amount of state funds.

According to the verdict, Simuzar Pashayeva and Ganira Kazimova were acquitted.

They had been charged under Articles 179.2.3 and 179.2.4 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement committed through abuse of official position and causing significant damage).

Court proceedings involving separatists

1) On May 26, a preparatory hearing on appeals filed against the verdict concerning Armenian citizens — former high-ranking officials of the separatist regime in Karabakh — including Araik Harutyunyan, Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, and others, was held at the Baku Court of Appeal under the chairmanship of Judge Elmar Rahimov.

At the hearing, each individual subject to the appellate proceedings was provided with interpreters in the languages they understood — Armenian and Russian — as well as lawyers to ensure their defense rights.

State prosecutor Anar Alakbarov stated that the requirements of criminal procedural legislation had been observed when the appeals were filed. He noted that at the current stage, the subject of the preparatory hearing is the possibility of assigning the case for appellate review. The prosecution believes that all procedural conditions established by law for initiating appellate proceedings have been fulfilled and that the case may be assigned for judicial review without requiring additional evidence.

After discussing the positions of the parties and the motions submitted, as well as hearing the parties’ opinions regarding those motions, the court retired for deliberation.

Following deliberation, the adopted decisions were announced and the criminal case was assigned for appellate review. It was stated that the court hearing would take place on June 2 without investigation and without examination of additional evidence.

According to the verdict issued by the Baku Military Court on February 5, 2026, Arayik Harutyunyan, Levon Mnatsakanyan, David Manukyan, Davit Ishkhanyan, and David Babayan were sentenced to life imprisonment. Arkadi Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years, Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan to 19 years, Garik Martirosyan to 18 years, Davit Allahverdiyan and Levon Balayan to 16 years, while Vasili Beglaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Erik Ghazaryan were sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment.