The prosecutor demanded 10 years of imprisonment for the Azerbaijani oppositionist.

The prosecutor demanded to sentence the activist of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, Kenan Zeynalov, to 10 years in prison. The defense stated that the prosecution did not provide credible evidence of Zeynalov's guilt in the attack, and the court refused to interrogate witnesses. Zeynalov's associates called the case fabricated.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", at the end of October 2925, associates stated about the infringement of the rights of oppositionist Kenan Zeynalov (Basgal) in the pre-trial detention center. He was unjustly denied visits and phone calls with relatives.

On July 23, at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, during the trial of the PNFA activist Kenan Zeynalov (Basgal), state prosecutor Babakhan Gasanaliyev proposed to sentence the oppositionist to 10 years in prison.

"The prosecutor claimed that the charges against Kenan Zeynalov, that he allegedly stabbed a person named Anar Ragimov, were confirmed during the trial. However, the activist's lawyer Nazim Musaev opposed the conclusion of the judicial investigation. He pointed out that the court did not conduct a comprehensive investigation, and none of the defense's motions aimed at establishing the truth were satisfied by the court," said an activist who observed the process to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

According to him, before the prosecutor's speech, the lawyer requested to interrogate three police officers who detained Zeynalov, as well as other individuals recognized as witnesses in the case. However, these motions were rejected.

The lawyer Nazim Musaev confirmed to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" that the prosecution did not provide credible evidence of Zeynalov's guilt.

"The expert conclusion states that on the shirt of the victim Anar Ragimov, who allegedly suffered knife wounds, there are three adjacent holes. Reading the conclusion, it creates the impression that the knife strikes were applied carefully in order. Since the shirt is material evidence, we requested to examine it in court and check how accurate the expert's writing is. Moreover, the expert conclusion states that 'the knife was seized from the crime scene.' But it does not specify exactly where the knife was seized from - from the asphalt, from a stone, from grass, from the ground? Therefore, we insisted on interrogating the expert, but the court did not satisfy this motion either," said the lawyer.

He also pointed out that the court did not ensure the appearance of the victim Ragimov.

The lawyer stated that at the next hearing, the defense would insist on acquitting the activist.

The head of the PNFA press service Natig Adilov stated about the fabrication of the criminal case against Zeynalov.

"A provocation was committed against Kenan Zeynalov. He did not inflict knife wounds on anyone. He himself was attacked with the aim of provocation. The true reason for Kenan Zeynalov's arrest is that he was a bodyguard for the chairman of our party, Ali Kerimli, on a voluntary basis. In the spring of 2025, pressure began on those who accompanied Ali Kerimli at public events. Party members who transported him in their personal vehicles were administratively arrested. A criminal case was also initiated against another bodyguard, Novruz Tagiev, who has already received a prison sentence. As a result, in November, the party leader Ali Kerimli was also arrested. Thus, the arrests of Kerimli's bodyguards were part of a broad campaign against the PNFA and its leader," said Adilov to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

An employee of the serious crimes court informed the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" that the next hearing in Zeynalov's case is scheduled for July 30.

The victim Ragimov and representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment.