Azerbaijani activist Suleymanly complained about the delay in the trial.

The arrested head of the Institute of Civil Rights, Bashir Suleymanly, believes that the trial in his case is being deliberately delayed, which is why he continues to remain in isolation for a long time.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", a case has been initiated in Azerbaijan against the head of the Institute of Human Rights, Bashir Suleymanly, and activists Galib Bayramov and Nargiz Mukhtarova, who are accused in a case against "a number of local and foreign NGOs," initiated back in 2014. They are charged under criminal articles "Legalization of large amounts of income obtained by criminal means," "Abuse of official powers," and "Official forgery," which carry penalties of up to 12 years in prison. They will appear before the court separately. On October 9, 2025, the court denied the defense's motions to terminate the criminal prosecution of activist Bashir Suleymanly or at least transfer him to house arrest.

In Azerbaijan, the arrested head of the Institute of Civil Rights, Bashir Suleymanly, complained about the delay in the trial against him and the deprivation of his right to live meetings with relatives.

Suleymanly believes that the judicial investigation against him is being deliberately delayed, said a colleague of the activist to the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot."

"By delaying the trial, I am effectively being kept in conditions of covered imprisonment. I believe this is done with malicious intent to aggravate my suffering. I protest against the delay in the trial and insist on speeding up the judicial proceedings," Suleymanly stated in his appeal.

He also complains about the lack of live meetings with his loved ones. "Since the day of my arrest, to this day, that is, for a year and a half now, I have not been able to see my minor children. My parents are elderly and suffer from various diseases. Every time to meet with me, they travel from the region to Baku, overcoming a journey that takes 4-5 hours one way and the same back. However, I can only see them through glass, and we communicate during these meetings by phone. Due to their old age, they hear me poorly and often do not understand everything I say," Suleymanly notes.

The activist's lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, told the correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" that the trial of Suleymanly began back in October 2025. According to the lawyer, the last hearing in the case took place on July 30.

An employee of the Baku Serious Crimes Court explained the two-month break by the judges going on vacation.

There are no time limits on breaks in judicial proceedings in the Criminal Procedure Code of Azerbaijan, noted one of the Baku lawyers, who wished to remain anonymous.

"Breaks should be within reasonable time frames. If the presiding judge goes on vacation, then yes, the suspension of the process is inevitable, and the judicial investigation may be interrupted for 30-40 days. However, it is incorrect to wait for the return from vacation of all three judges, who may take their breaks at different times. In such cases, substitute judges can join the process. A long break in the process prolongs the accused's stay in pre-trial detention, where he is kept in close isolation, unlike in a colony, to which he should be transferred after the verdict. On the other hand, if the court acquits the accused, it turns out that he was unlawfully detained for a long time," said the lawyer.