A preparatory court hearing was held on the case of Ahmad Mammadli

Ahmad Mammadli

Recent developments in Azerbaijan highlight a range of issues, from the legal proceedings of a prominent activist and the state of political prisoners to economic trends, demographic shifts, and complex international relations, particularly with Russia and Armenia.

Legal Proceedings of Public Activist Ahmed Mammadli

A preparatory session for the criminal case of public activist Ahmed Mammadli was held on 21 August 2025 at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Vugar Seyidov. During the session, Mammadli's personal data was clarified.

His lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, submitted a motion to terminate the criminal case and replace his client's pre-trial detention with house arrest. However, the court rejected this motion and decided to send the case to trial. The next hearing is scheduled for 3 September.

Mammadli was detained in May this year, specifically on 6 May 2025, and a 4-month pre-trial detention measure was imposed on him on 8 May. He is accused of stabbing a person during a dispute in a taxi and is charged under articles of the Criminal Code related to "deliberately causing serious harm to health" and "hooliganism". Mammadli denies the charges, stating he was framed and that he is being punished for his past political and social activism, as well as his current journalistic activities. His relatives suggest he was arrested after filming a court hearing for the imprisoned politician Tofig Yagublu.

It is also noted that Mammadli was previously administratively arrested for 30 days in 2022 for intentionally disobeying lawful police demands, during his time as chairman of the D-18 Movement (which was dissolved in 2023). He asserted that this previous arrest was due to his discussions on peace and criticism of President Ilham Aliyev.

Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan

According to reports from local human rights defenders, there are currently 375 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. The government, however, rejects these claims, stating that those arrested are held accountable for specific actions.