The court again refused to transfer the activist to house arrest

On February 3, the trial of public activist Nijat Ibrahim will begin in the Baku Serious Crimes Court. This decision was made on Wednesday at a preparatory hearing by Judge Aygun Gurbanova. According to lawyer Zibeida Sadigova, Ibrahim was taken to court in handcuffs. There were guards sitting next to him throughout the whole process.

These measures were taken due to the fact that at the previous meeting, an activist protesting against the unjustified arrest began banging his head against the wall and broke his head. On January 21, the defense again requested that Ibrahim be placed under house arrest. However, the court did not grant the petition.

*On September 6, 2023, Nijat Ibrahim was not released from the country at Baku airport. However, his wife and two children were allowed to board the plane. After that, he appealed to the Interior Ministry, demanding to lift the illegal ban, and threatened to burn himself in front of the Interior Ministry building.

On September 9, he was detained, accused of intentionally causing harm to health. On December 11, the charges were increased to Article 126.2.4. (intentional infliction of serious harm to health, in a generally dangerous manner). He was also charged under Article 221.3 (Hooliganism committed with the use of weapons) of the Criminal Code. According to these articles, he faces up to 11 years in prison.

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