Azerbaijani Lawyer Appeals to Supreme Court Chairman Over Judicial Corruption Concerns

Well-known Azerbaijani lawyer Aslan Ismayilov has issued a public appeal to Inam Karimov, Chairman of the Supreme Court and the Judicial-Legal Council, calling for urgent reforms in the country's judicial system. Ismayilov warned that systemic corruption and procedural violations within the courts are fueling public discontent and could lead to further unrest.

In his appeal, Ismayilov highlighted widespread issues affecting the judiciary, including delays in case hearings, favoritism toward certain lawyers, and the prolongation of trials allegedly for corrupt purposes. He pointed to a recent wave of protests in Imishli as evidence that public frustration over judicial misconduct extends beyond individual cases.

"The unrest in Imishli was not merely a reaction to a traffic accident—it was a protest against lawlessness, abuse of power, and deep-rooted corruption within the judiciary and law enforcement agencies," Ismayilov wrote.

The lawyer, who has previously served as a judge and prosecutor, detailed several cases in which he alleged judicial malpractice. Among them was a fraud trial involving officials from the Confederation of Trade Unions of Azerbaijan, in which Ismayilov claims that sentencing discrepancies suggest judicial bias. He also cited a case in which a Chinese national accused of defrauding Azerbaijani citizens of over two million manats was released from custody under questionable circumstances.

Ismayilov expressed disappointment that the judicial reforms anticipated following Karimov’s tenure at ASAN Service—Azerbaijan’s public service agency known for transparency—had not materialized.

"We had high hopes that your leadership would bring an end to this disgraceful state of affairs, but today it is impossible to stay silent," he wrote.

Despite repeated attempts to raise concerns with government officials, Ismayilov claims his efforts have been ignored. "Where there is a fair and lawful court, other authorities cannot act with such impunity," he stated, urging Karimov to investigate the cases he outlined.

Neither the Supreme Court nor the Judicial-Legal Council has yet responded to Ismayilov’s allegations.