The court determined that extending the detention was ‘necessary’ in light of newly gathered evidence.
On March 18, the Binagadi District Court reviewed the investigation agency’s request to extend the detention of human rights defender Rufat Safarov. The court ruled to extend his detention until May 3, citing the necessity of gathering new evidence as the reason for the decision.
Safarov was arrested on December 3, 2024, and faces charges under Articles 127.2.3 (intentional infliction of minor bodily harm), 178.3.2 (fraud causing significant damage), and 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code. The case alleges that Safarov received 60,000 manat from a man named Natig Imamguliyev, claiming it was for the sale of land in Novkhani. The dispute allegedly led to Safarov striking Imamguliyev.
However, Safarov denies the charges, asserting that he did not receive any money from Imamguliyev and had not even met him before the incident. According to Safarov, on the day of the dispute, he was attacked while getting out of his car at a garage. He says that soon after the attack, police arrived, handcuffed him, and took him into custody.
Despite being in detention, Safarov received international recognition on December 10, 2024, International Human Rights Day, when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken awarded him the “Human Rights Defender of the Year” prize. Blinken acknowledged that Safarov could not accept the award in person due to his imprisonment for his human rights work.
Rufat Safarov previously worked as the Chief Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture and as an investigator in the Prosecutor’s Office. In December 2015, he resigned from his position in protest of human rights violations and the lack of rule of law in Azerbaijan. Following his resignation, the Prosecutor’s Office searched his home and initiated a criminal case against him, which ultimately led to his arrest. Safarov was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
After being released early in March 2019 under a pardon decree, Safarov went on to found the “Defense Line” organization, where he continues his work advocating for human rights.
