15:49, 11 March 2026

Azerbaijani activist Zyaki sentenced to lengthy prison term

A Baku court sentenced activist Zamin Zyaki to 7.5 years in prison. He denied his guilt and claimed he was being persecuted for his public activities.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, the state prosecutor proposed an eight-year prison sentence for public activist Zamin Zyaki. Zyaki himself has denied his guilt.

On April 9, Asef Akhmedov, head of the Ganja Regional Community Center, and Zamin Zyaki, an expert on social issues, were taken to the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan, where they were charged with economic crimes. They were arrested as part of a renewed case against several Azerbaijani and foreign NGOs. The activists are charged with "forgery," "abuse of power," and "money laundering." Investigators are investigating their ties to Western donors, including USAID. The latter's activities in Azerbaijan were terminated by a government decision in February 2025.

Today, the trial of Zyaki concluded at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Elmin Rustamov. The court found him guilty on all three charges – 193-1.3.2 (money laundering), 308.1 (abuse of office), and 313 (forgery in public office) – and sentenced him to 7.5 years in prison, an employee of the Baku Serious Crimes Court told the Caucasian Knot correspondent.

The activist's lawyer, Gunay Ismayilova, said the defense insisted on an acquittal and therefore disagrees with the verdict. According to her, Zyaki did not commit the crimes charged. His activities were public in nature, he held no official position, and therefore could not have committed official crimes.

"The classification of the use of grants as 'money laundering' is untenable, since these funds constituted financial assistance to civil society. "On the other hand, even if the grants weren't registered, the only punishment is an administrative fine," the lawyer noted.

Ismaylova said the defense will appeal the verdict. According to her, Zyaki himself denied the charges and stated that he was being persecuted for his public activities.

Human rights activists previously recognized Zyaki as a political prisoner.

The criminal case against local and foreign NGOs was opened back in 2014. At that time, a wave of arrests of prominent human rights activists occurred. They were subsequently released early, and the case was suspended. But in March of this year (2025), the case was reopened, and it has assumed the scope of a campaign against the remnants of civil society. More than 100 people were involved in the investigation, including representatives of pro-government NGOs and employees of international donor agencies. Most were questioned with a warning of further challenges, but more than 10 individuals were charged, some in absentia because they had already fled the country," a legal expert who wished to remain anonymous previously said.

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/421514