Witness testimony strengthened the case of human rights activist Safarov's innocence.

Prosecution witnesses in the case of human rights activist Rufat Safarov did not confirm the investigation's version of events in court. The defendant himself insists that the case was fabricated at the behest of the Azerbaijani authorities.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on February 16, at a court hearing in Baku, Rufat Safarov, executive director of the human rights organization "Line of Defense," described his criminal prosecution as "authority revenge for his human rights activities." A witness who testified at the hearing did not confirm the investigation's version of events.

On March 16, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes held another hearing in the case of Rufat Safarov, the human rights activist's mother, Tahira Tahirgyzy, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent today.

According to her, Safarov demanded that the trial be expedited. "Rufat said that he has been in custody for a year and four months and sees no point in faking justice. "Rufat said the criminal case was fabricated for political reasons, and the court would announce the verdict based on the instructions given. "In that case, why delay the trial and cause people additional suffering?" Takhirgyzy said.

Two witnesses were questioned at the court hearing, and, according to Takhirgyzy, they said they were involved in buying and selling houses and land. Both witnesses testified that they acted as intermediaries in the purchase of real estate for the victim, Natig Imanguliyev, only once.

They did not confirm that Imanguliyev approached Rufat.

"However, both witnesses stated that they knew nothing about Imanguliyev wanting to purchase another plot of land. That is, they did not confirm that Imanguliyev approached Rufat about purchasing a plot of land, much less transferred 60,000 manat to him," said Takhira Takhirgyzy.

The woman added that the witnesses had to explain the contradictions between their testimony during the pre-trial investigation and what they said in court. Witnesses explained that they signed the investigative reports without reading them, the human rights activist's mother said.

She also recounted her son's words in court. "There's no need to force people who haven't even seen my face to come here and lie. The system in this country—the police, the prosecutor's office, the court—is engaged in the destruction of people's morality. End this show," Takhirgyzy quoted Rufat Safarov as saying.

A lawyer and an opposition figure criticized the investigation's position.

The prosecution's case is "falling apart like a house of cards," lawyer Elchin Sadygov commented to a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent following the hearing.

"Even the prosecution witnesses don't confirm that Imanguliyev transferred money to Safarov." There is not a single credible piece of evidence against him," the lawyer said.

Rufat Safarov's trial is a "political farce," said Jamil Hasanli, head of the National Council of Democratic Forces, who observed the trial.

Rufat Safarov simply had a case "stitched up," but it was stitched up with white thread.

"They are trying to sell people the lie that Safarov embezzled 60,000 manats. But what sane person would believe that? In Azerbaijan, all transactions have long been processed through a notary or a bank. It is clear that Rufat simply had a case "stitched up," but it is stitched up with white thread, and the falsification is visible to the naked eye," he told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The next hearing in Safarov's case will take place On April 6, an employee of the Baku Serious Crimes Court told a Caucasian Knot correspondent. Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment.

The defense had previously pointed out signs of fabrication in the case.

As a reminder, Rufat Safarov was detained in Baku on December 3, 2024, and then arrested on charges of fraud and hooliganism. Safarov's detention prevented him from flying to the United States, where on December 10, 2024, he was awarded the State Department Award in absentia.

On December 8, 2025, Natig Imanguliyev's testimony was heard. The victim's version of the location where the conflict occurred, presented at the hearing, conflicted with the materials provided by the defense. Furthermore, according to mobile phone data, Imanguliyev was in contact with police officers before the incident, who soon detained Safarov.

On January 26, the victim, Natig Imanguliyev, admitted in court that he had not undergone a medical examination. However, the investigation materials include a doctor's report. Thus, the victim's testimony confirmed the theory that the case was fabricated and Safarov's innocence.

Claims that Safarov defrauded the victim by taking money but not selling the land plot initially seemed implausible, lawyer Elchin Sadygov previously noted. "There is a procedure for concluding real estate purchase and sale transactions. The money is deposited with a notary, and only after the seller signs the sales contract is the money transferred to him. "Why on earth would Imamguliyev just give the money to Safarov?" he said.

Safarov faces criminal prosecution for the second time

Rufat Safarov is the son of Eldar Sabiroglu (Safarov), co-founder of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, who served as a member of parliament from 1995 to 2000 and then headed the press service of the Ministry of Defense until 2013. In 2019, Rufat Safarov received threats demanding that he cease his opposition activities. His mother also received death threats. In May 2022, Safarov was one of the organizers of a rally against the persecution of activists and journalists, and threats of arrest were conveyed to him through Father.

Safarov previously worked as an investigator for the Zerdab District Prosecutor's Office. In September 2016, he was sentenced to 9 years in prison on charges of bribery. Safarov himself did not admit guilt, stating the political nature of the case. Before his arrest, he submitted a letter of resignation in disagreement with the policies of the Azerbaijani government. In March 2019, Safarov was pardoned. A year later, he and like-minded individuals founded the human rights organization "Line of Defense."

On February 17, 2026, the ECHR ordered the Azerbaijani authorities to pay Rufat Safarov 4,000 euros in compensation for the violation of his right to a fair trial in 2016.