Illustration: Mikroskop Media
Inmates Forced to Stand in the Rain
Despite the continuous rains in Baku between March 27 and 28, all inmates were forcibly taken out for a roll call in the open air.
Where: Penitentiary No. 10
Guards at the penitentiary used even harsher violence against the protesters, forcing them to stand barefoot in the rain. Journalist Teymur Kerimov was one of those subjected to such violence.
Supreme Court keeps public activists and journalists in detention
The Tofig Yagublu case
The Supreme Court did not grant the cassation appeal of Tofiq Yagublu, a detained member of the Musavat Party.
What happened: Tofig Yaqublu was arrested in December 2023. On March 10, 2025, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.
Charges: Fraud and document forgery.
The Abzas Media Case
The Supreme Court did not grant the cassation appeals of journalists Hafiz Babali, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova, who were arrested in the “Abzas Media case.”
What happened: On June 20, 2025, at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, Ulvi Hasanli, who was arrested in the “Abzas Media case,” Sevinj Vaqifgizi, Hafiz Babali and Farid Mehralizade were sentenced to 9 years, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to 8 years, and Mahammad Kekalov to 7 years and 6 months in prison.
Charges: Illegal entrepreneurship for obtaining a substantial income, laundering a significant amount of criminal proceeds as an organized crime group, smuggling by an organized crime group, and document forgery.
Bodyguard of opposition party leader sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison
Novruz Taghiyev, who was the bodyguard for Ali Karimli, the chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), has been sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison. What happened: Novruz Taghiyev has been in custody since May 20, 2025.
Charges: Fraud causing significant damage and preparing forged documents.
What Novruz Tagiyev says: He claims that he was offered the condition of testifying against Ali Karimli in exchange for his release. He said he refused to do so.
Trial of Russian nationals arrested in Azerbaijan has begun
The trial has begun at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes for Russian citizens who were arrested amid the deterioration of Azerbaijani-Russian relations last July.
The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the criminal case and to be released to house arrest.
The court did not grant the motions.
Charge: Drug trafficking, when committed by a group of persons acting in concert or by an organized group.