07:48, 20 August 2026

The prosecution requested a suspended sentence for Azerbaijani activist Bayramov.

The prosecutor requested 9 years of probation for Azerbaijani activist Galib Bayramov. He himself denies the charges.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Galib Bayramov, along with other activists, was charged in a case against several local and foreign NGOs. Following the preliminary investigation, the activists were charged under articles 193-1.2.2, 193-1.2.3, and 193-1.3.2 (legalization of large amounts of income obtained through criminal means, the same actions committed using official position and repeatedly), 308.1 (abuse of official powers), and 313 (official forgery) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which provide for penalties of up to 12 years in prison. During the investigation and trial, Bayramov was under police supervision.

In the summer of 2014, the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan announced the initiation of criminal cases against a number of local NGOs, branches, and representations of foreign NGOs for abuse of official powers and official forgery. In early August 2014, at the request of the Prosecutor General's Office, the bank accounts of six local and one international non-profit organization were frozen. According to activists, the accounts of more than 20 local and foreign NGOs have been frozen.

On August 19, in the Baku Serious Crimes Court, the prosecutor made a statement in the case of Bayramov. He proposed sentencing the activist to 9 years of imprisonment conditionally with a five-year probation period, Bayramov's relatives told the correspondent of “Caucasian Knot”.

“The charges are fabricated. He was merely working as an expert, individually performing work under a service contract and paying taxes diligently. The activity of the Center for Economic Research he headed was effectively terminated many years ago due to changes in legislation. Since then, this NGO has not received grants. Therefore, Galib rejected all charges,” said a relative of Bayramov.

According to the interlocutor, at the next court session, the date of which is still unknown, the defense will present its closing statement.

Lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova also considers the criminal prosecution of her client unfounded. In a conversation with the correspondent of “Caucasian Knot”, she noted that Bayramov, as an economist, prepared research reports and expert opinions for clients based on service contracts. She noted that the defense will insist on Bayramov's acquittal.

The brother of the accused Bayramov, economist Gubad Ibadoglu, is also under police supervision in another criminal case.

An employee of the Baku Serious Crimes Court confirmed the information about the prosecutor's statement in the Bayramov case.

It should be noted that earlier a court in Baku sentenced activist Nargiz Mukhtarova to 7.5 years of probation for charges of legalizing illegal income, also brought to criminal responsibility in the NGO case.

Translated automatically via OpenAI from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/425923