The court refused to release journalist Afghan Sadigov.
The Lenkaran Court for Serious Crimes rejected the defense's motion for the release of journalist Afghan Sadigov from custody on October 23. The lawyer also demanded to remove the journalist from the glass booth in the courtroom, but this issue has been postponed until the next hearing. Sadigov does not admit guilt to the charges of extortion.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the General Prosecutor's Office of Azerbaijan has resumed the previously terminated criminal case of extortion against Azerbaijani journalist Afghan Sadigov. On June 8, the court chose a preventive measure of arrest for him. The appellate court in Baku rejected the appeal against the arrest of journalist Afghan Sadigov, keeping him in custody. At the end of June, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, urged the Azerbaijani authorities to provide information on the reasons for the resumption of the criminal case against Sadigov. He noted that detention before trial should be applied as an exceptional measure. The Azerbaijani General Prosecutor's Office stated that the journalist's case is related to criminal charges and has no connection to his activities. In July, the court extended the preventive measure until October 30.
On February 28, 2025, the ECHR prohibited the extradition of Afghan Sadigov from Georgia to Azerbaijan until a decision on the merits of the case is made. However, on April 1, Azerbaijan suspended the criminal prosecution of Sadigov and notified Georgia about it, and on April 4, Sadigov was detained in Tbilisi on an administrative case. The next day, he was deported from the country, handed over to the Azerbaijani Migration Service. Thus, the authorities found a formal way to circumvent the ECHR's ban on Sadigov's extradition. In Azerbaijan, the journalist was informed that the criminal case against him was terminated, and he was released. He was not allowed to leave the country during the period when the case was terminated.
Today, on October 23, a preparatory hearing in the case of journalist Afghan Sadigov took place at the Lenkaran Court for Serious Crimes.
The defense filed a motion to change the preventive measure and release the journalist from custody, reported the spouse of the accused.
"Lawyer Nemat Kerimli informed the court that the circumstances that served as the basis for his client's detention have been eliminated, and therefore there is no reason to assume that Afghan Sadigov, being free, could 'hide' or 'falsify' evidence. The lawyer requested the court to release the journalist until the completion of the judicial investigation and the entry of the verdict into legal force," said Sevinj Sadigova to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".
However, according to her, the court did not satisfy the motions.
"The lawyer also requested to release Afghan from the glass cage in the courtroom and allow him to sit next to his defender. The lawyer referred to precedent decisions of the ECHR, according to which keeping the accused in an 'aquarium' humiliates his honor and dignity and creates problems in terms of exercising rights. However, the court left the motion unconsidered – the decision on this issue has been postponed to the next hearing, scheduled for November 2," continued Sevinj Sadigova.
Lawyer Nemat Kerimli confirmed Sevinj's words to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".
He emphasized that Afghan Sadigov does not admit guilt on any of the charges – "extortion by threats in conspiracy by a group of persons," "extortion by threats with the aim of seizing property of significant value," and "extortion by threats committed repeatedly."
The lawyer stated that the defense's position will be presented during the court hearings.
An employee of the Lenkaran Court for Serious Crimes confirmed the holding of a preparatory hearing in Sadigov's case and the scheduling of the next hearings for November 1-2. Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comments.
The Union "For the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan" recognized A. Sadigov as a political prisoner.