Court Hearing Held in Human Rights Defender Rufat Safarov's Criminal Case

Baku, Azerbaijan – A court hearing has taken place in the criminal case against human rights defender Rufat Safarov, who stands accused of hooliganism and fraud. The proceedings, held at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, were chaired by Judge Aygun Gurbanova.

During the session, Safarov's legal counsel filed a motion requesting the submission of a document related to a medical examination conducted upon his client's entry into the pre-trial detention center. The court granted this motion.

Following this, the state prosecutor announced the indictment against Safarov.

According to the indictment, Rufat Safarov allegedly received over 60,000 manats from a victim, identified as Natig Imanguliyev, in exchange for selling a dacha located in Novkhani. The prosecution claims that Safarov failed to fulfill this promise. On the day of the incident, Imanguliyev reportedly visited Safarov's garage, leading to an argument during which Safarov is accused of injuring him.

Rufat Safarov has vehemently denied the charges. He stated in court that a portion of the land in Novkhani had indeed been sold to the victim. However, he clarified that Imanguliyev desired the remaining 600 square meters (6 sot), which Safarov's family declined to sell. Safarov also asserted that he saw Natig Imanguliyev for the first time on December 3, the very day he was detained by police.

Rufat Safarov was detained on December 3, 2024. At the Binagadi District Police Department, he was charged under several articles of the Criminal Code, specifically:

• Article 221.1: Hooliganism

• Article 127.2.3: Intentionally inflicting less serious harm to health, committed by a generally dangerous method or with hooliganism intent

• Article 178.3.2: Fraud, particularly when causing significant damage.

The court proceedings have been postponed, with the next session scheduled for September 8.