Human rights activists considered Gahramanov’s arrest a measure to intimidate Azerbaijani lawyers.

The International Observatory for the Protection of Lawyers has demanded the release of Zabil Gahramanov, who was arrested in Azerbaijan.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on October 25, 2025, the Ganja City Court sentenced Zabil Gahramanov to three months of pretrial detention. The Court of Appeal upheld this decision. Gahramanov's colleagues considered the case politically motivated. In November of that year, the court upheld the investigator's decision to ban Gahramanov from communicating with his family.

Gahramanov's relatives told a Caucasian Knot correspondent that the appeals court has not yet considered the appeal against the lawyer's extended detention.

Meanwhile, the International Observatory for the Protection of Lawyers called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release Gahramanov and drop all charges against him.

"The organization is deeply concerned about the arrest and pretrial detention of Zabil Gahramanov, an Azerbaijani lawyer known for his defense of people detained for political reasons, as well as his public statements condemning police violence," the organization said in a statement received by a Caucasian Knot correspondent on January 28.

alarming trend of increasing repression against lawyers

"The trial takes place against a backdrop of growing pressure on lawyers. On October 8, 2025, the Azerbaijan Bar Association suspended Gahramanov from practicing law for six months following a complaint filed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of Internal Affairs filed a complaint against Gahramanov following the lawyer's public statements condemning violations of citizens' rights at the Ganja Police Department. "This raises serious doubts about the impartiality of the investigation," the OIAD statement noted.

The defense pointed to irregularities in the investigation, particularly regarding the jurisdiction of the relevant authorities. Furthermore, pro-government media outlets published accusations that stigmatized Gahramanov, the OIAD notes.

The Observatory is concerned about the "alarming trend of increasing repression against lawyers in Azerbaijan amid restrictions targeting human rights defenders, independent media, and the political opposition."

"The persecution of a lawyer for his professional activities and criticism of the government seriously undermines the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary," the OIAD statement noted.

"Unfortunately, the new wave of repression that unfolded in Azerbaijan since late 2023 and has engulfed journalists and activists has not spared lawyers. Gahramanov's arrest is not only a personal punishment for him, but also an intimidation for other human rights lawyers," an Azerbaijani lawyer, who did not wish to publish his name, told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.