Four people received sentences in Azerbaijan for attempting to hold a procession with Soviet flags.
The court process regarding Abdulla Ibrahimli, Ibrahim Asadli, Elchin Bayramly, and Mehman Zeynalov, who attempted to hold a procession with Soviet flags to promote communist ideology, has concluded.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", two participants of the procession in Baku on November 7 - Abdulla Ibrahimli and Ibrahim Asadly - were arrested for three months on criminal charges of violating public order.
During the trial at the Nizami District Court, a sentence was read, according to which Ibrahim Asadli was sentenced to 2 years in prison, Abdulla Ibrahimli to 2 years, Elchin Bayramly to 1.5 years, and Mehman Zeynalov to 1.5 years, APA reported today.
Information about the arrest of the four individuals in this case was reported in November 2025. They were charged under Article 233 (organization of actions that violate public order, or active participation in such actions) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
According to the investigation, in November 2025, videos were published on social networks showing a group of individuals attempting to hold a procession with Soviet flags. They rented an office and "acted as a group with the support and funding of another state," and also held meetings periodically.
During searches of offices and apartments, flags, copies of books promoting radical ideas, CDs, and other electronic devices were discovered and seized, as reported in a publication from November 26.
It is worth noting that Ibrahim Asadly positions himself on social media as an oncologist and psychologist. He is also known for his criticism of capitalism and promotion of leftist ideas. The resource Hamam times published a half-minute video showing a group of 7-8 men walking through one of Baku's parks to the sounds of "The Internationale" while holding Soviet and Azerbaijan SSR flags. The video is accompanied by subtitles: "a criminal case has been opened against those who marked the anniversary of the October Revolution in Baku." Some activists questioned the legality of criminal prosecution for participating in an event with Soviet flags. The official charges against the arrested were not based on the use of communist or Soviet symbols, the lawyer pointed out.