Anar Mammadli claimed evidence in his case was falsified.

According to Mammadli, the materials in the smuggling and money laundering case were distorted, and the financial documents were assessed without an expert examination.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, Anar Mammadli, head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center, is under arrest and is deprived of access to effective medical care, despite having difficulty walking due to a knee condition.

Yesterday, September 30, during Mammadli's trial in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, the human rights activist denied the charges and demanded that the prosecutor explain the evidence presented against him. Mammadli stated that the charges of smuggling, money laundering, illegal entrepreneurship, and tax evasion against him lacked legal basis. In his opinion, the investigation committed numerous violations during the evidence collection process, as one of the human rights activist's relatives told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

Mammadli noted that despite the fact that he was unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic, the investigation pointed to projects he allegedly implemented. Mammadli stated that the smuggling charges against him are based on the fact that he made 19 trips abroad between 2019 and 2024, during which he underwent customs inspections and was forced to submit written declarations. Mammadli asked the court to request these declarations from the State Customs Committee.

The human rights activist also stated that during his arrest and investigation, his computers and phones were searched without his personal participation or the participation of his lawyers. According to Mammadli, his personal and professional materials were distorted, and his financial documents were assessed without an expert examination.

"Anar indicated that the investigators, having assumed authority to conduct an audit and tax inspection, improperly conducted the investigation and concluded that 'illegal financial transactions' occurred," a relative of Mammadli reported.

He also specifically addressed the charge of "money laundering." Mammadli's personal car and bank account were classified as such. However, as the human rights activist noted, he purchased the car with funds paid to him by the government as compensation ordered by the ECHR. The funds in the bank account were of the same origin, Mammadli added.

Mammadli also pointed out the unfounded allegations that he used unregistered grants. According to Mammadli, this is how the investigation classified files containing documents relating to 2009-2015, even though, under the legislation at the time, grants were not subject to registration.

Mammadli stated that the true reason for his arrest was his monitoring of elections and the observers' recording of fraud during voting and vote counting, and he asked the court to drop the criminal prosecution.

Lawyer Elchin Sadygov also pointed to the lack of credible evidence against the human rights activist. "Anar Mammadli was initially detained on charges of smuggling. However, no evidence was presented. He was not caught red-handed at the border. Furthermore, each time he crossed the border, he was subjected to customs inspection and had to submit declarations. "Furthermore, the case alleges that he obtained criminal proceeds, but does not specify the specific crime in question," the lawyer said.

The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest point in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Key Points About the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan". At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country.