This week in Azerbaijan was marked by the latest arrests in an NGO-related case, appointment of ex-military prosecutor Khanlar Valiyev to the Constitutional Court, an urgent appeal from Amnesty International for the release of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, and AXCP members’ charges.
Arrests in the “NGO case” as individuals face serious charges
Three individuals have been arrested, two are under detention, and one is being sought in relation to the reopened “NGO case” in Azerbaijan. The individuals, including Asaf Ahmadov, Galib Bayramov, Ahmad Mammadzade, Nargiz Mukhtarova, and Aytaj Agazadeh, are facing charges under Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code for money laundering, abuse of power, and fraud. On April 9, 2025, the accused were brought before court, with some under police supervision and others in temporary detention. Aytaj Agazadeh was sentenced to four months in prison, but she is currently abroad and is being sought by authorities.
The case, which initially targeted independent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 2014, has been reopened. The investigation involves nearly 50 individuals and includes charges of money laundering, abuse of public office, and fraud. Notable figures such as Beşir Süleymanlı, Mammad Alpay, Mehriban Rahimli, Hafız Hasanov, and Subhan Hasanlı are either under arrest, house arrest, or have been placed on the wanted list due to being outside the country. The investigation is ongoing, with many of the accused linked to politically sensitive activities related to CSOs in Azerbaijan.
Khanlar Valiyev appointed as Constitutional Court Judge
Khanlar Valiyev, the former military prosecutor of Azerbaijan, has been appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court following a presentation and vote in the Milli Majlis (National Assembly). Valiyev, who served as the military prosecutor since 1995, was recently retired on April 8, 2025, after his term ended. The appointment was confirmed after a vote, and Valiyev took an oath in the Milli Majlis. This decision comes after President Ilham Aliyev signed a law on April 7, 2025, raising the retirement age for Constitutional Court judges from 70 to 75.
Valiyev’s name is controversially associated with the “Tartar case,” a well-known incident involving the torture and illegal detention of Azerbaijani soldiers. The case, which began in May 2017, saw over 500 soldiers subjected to severe torture and coerced into confessions of espionage on behalf of Armenia.
The case has been revisited by the Azerbaijani authorities in 2021, with several perpetrators convicted. However, the investigation remains incomplete, and requests to question high-ranking officials, including Valiyev, have been repeatedly denied in court.
Amnesty International: “Free Tofig Yagublu immediately”
As opposition politician Tofig Yagublu enters the second week of a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment, Amnesty International has issued an urgent appeal for his immediate and unconditional release. According to Mari Struthers, the organization’s regional director, Yagublu’s deteriorating health requires immediate medical intervention: “His freedom, health, and life are at serious risk.”
Yagublu was sentenced to nine years in prison in March 2025 on fraud and forgery charges that he and his supporters say are fabricated and politically motivated.
The longtime critic of the Azerbaijani government has been repeatedly imprisoned in recent years, and his ongoing hunger strike is reminiscent of a similar protest he led in 2020.
As Yagublu’s health declines, international human rights advocates are urging the Azerbaijani government to uphold its commitments to human dignity and release him before it’s too late.
Investigation into Azerbaijan People’s Front Party members
The investigation into two activists from the Azerbaijan People’s Front Party (AXCP), Zaur Asgarov and Gunduz Mirzayev, who were arrested a month ago for allegedly making anti-government calls, has been completed. Their case is set to be sent to court soon.
Despite the completion of the investigation, their request for house arrest was denied by the Binagadi District Court on April 10, 2025, and they remain in detention.
Zaur Asgarov’s lawyer argued that there is no longer a basis for keeping him in custody, as the possibility of influencing witnesses has passed. Both activists face charges under Article 281.2 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to making public calls against the government.
The AXCP announced that Gunduz Mirzayev had been expelled from the party on March 29, citing violations of the party’s charter and goals. AXCP maintains that while they will defend the legal rights of their members, any violations of the party’s regulations are not tolerated. Currently, nearly 15 members of the AXCP are in detention, and they all deny the charges, claiming their arrests are politically motivated. Government officials, however, have stated that no one in the country is being persecuted for political reasons.
