The prosecutor has requested the terms of punishment for the accused of attempted murder of a deputy

On August 2, at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, at the trial of the attack on Deputy Fazil Mustafa, the state prosecutor made a closing speech. He proposed to sentence Azer Sarijanov to life imprisonment, three other defendants Rashad Ahmedov, Elshad Askerov and Sabuhi Shirinov each to 20 years in prison, Emin Aliyarov to 5 years of real term.

The defendants only partially admit their guilt under Articles 277 (attempt on the life of a state or public figure) and 228.2.1 (illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. In court, they stated that the armed attack on the deputy was not related to his state or political activities, but "statements on religious topics." In particular, they did not agree with Mustafa's opinion condemning mourning by men on the day of mourning among the Shiite Ashura.

The defendants claimed that they did not intend to kill Mustafa, but wanted to "punish" him. Sabuhi Shirinov, who shot Mustafa, said that if he wanted to kill Mustafa, he would have fired a fatal shot as a military man. Lawyers believe that the prosecutor asked for excessively harsh sentences. The next court hearing is scheduled for August 7.

On the evening of March 28, 2023, an unknown person shot Fazil Mustafa several times in Baku. The deputy was injured and taken to the hospital, doctors said that there was no threat to his life.

The case was investigated under Articles 277 (attempt on the life of a state or public figure) and 228.2.1 (illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

According to investigators, the assassination attempt on the deputy was organized on behalf of the Iranian secret services.