Azerbaijani activist Mukhtarova has denied allegations of income laundering.

Nargiz Mukhtarova denied charges of money laundering in court.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", the court previously denied the defense's motion to drop the criminal prosecution of activist Nargiz Mukhtarova in the case against "a number of local and foreign NGOs."

In Azerbaijan, the preliminary investigation has been completed against the head of the Human Rights Institute, Bashir Suleymanli, and activists Galib Bayramov and Nargiz Mukhtarova, who are accused in the case against "a number of local and foreign NGOs" that began in 2014. They have been charged with "large-scale money laundering," "abuse of office," and "official forgery," which carry penalties of up to 12 years in prison. They will appear in court separately. Suleymanli is in custody, while Mukhtarova and Bayramov are under police supervision.

Yesterday, March 12, Mukhtarova testified at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, chaired by Judge Leyla Askerova-Mamedova.

"Initially, I did not want to testify due to a lack of trust in the country's judicial system after this same Baku Grave Crimes Court completely illegally and unfairly sentenced my husband, columnist Farid Mehralizade, to nine years in prison based on false accusations." "But then I decided to speak out," Mukhtarova told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"I never received any grants or signed any grant agreements. I merely performed certain tasks under service contracts and was paid for them. This work included researching four books on gender equality and women's rights, as well as preparing three programs. All funds received for these services under service contracts were transferred to my bank account, taxes were paid from them, and income declarations were filed. I committed no crimes; all my activities were legal. I provided all the evidence—documents—to the prosecutor's office," Mukhtarova continued.

She emphasized that even if she had received a grant, it would not have constituted a crime. "Failure to register a grant agreement is, at worst, an administrative violation," Mukhtarova noted. She also explained that she signed a service agreement with the American organization Mercy Corps, and that the source of the funds received as a donor was the US State Department. "If I am accused of laundering criminal proceeds, then the source of these funds is the US State Department, which also received this money illegally," the activist said. Mukhtarova also touched on the part of the accusation that she committed the crime "in collusion with a group of individuals." "If I'm accused of committing a crime as part of a group, then who are my supposed accomplices?" the activist said.

She noted that the indictment against her names Shahla Ismail, head of the Women for Rational Development society, but she is not a defendant in the case.

"This is further evidence of the illegality of the charges," Mukhtarova said.