Extortion Case Against Political Analyst Azer Gasimli Raises Questions Amid Broader Crackdown

Azer Gasimli

A court hearing in the criminal case of prominent political analyst Azer Gasimli has brought renewed attention to a long-running dispute that his family and legal team claim is a politically motivated prosecution. The latest proceedings took place on July 30 at the Baku Court for Grave Crimes, where a witness testified as the alleged victim.

Gasimli, who is the director of the Institute for Political Management, was arrested on December 8, 2024, and charged under Article 182.2.3 of the Criminal Code, which relates to extortion with threats of violence. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years. Gasimli has consistently stated that he is innocent, that the charges are fabricated, and that his arrest is a direct result of his critical political activity.

The court heard testimony from Gurbanali Yusifov, who is recognized as the victim in the case. According to Yusifov, he and Gasimli met at the REAL Party and began a business partnership in the cryptocurrency field. Yusifov claimed that at Gasimli's request, he opened an account in the political analyst's name and managed an investment of $20,000.

Yusifov alleged that when the value of the cryptocurrency dropped, Gasimli demanded either bitcoins or $45,000 in return for the losses. He claimed Gasimli threatened him and forced him to sign a document admitting to the $45,000 debt. Fearing for his safety, Yusifov stated he fled the country, but the threats continued, including threats against his family and a threat to kidnap his child.

The proceedings, presided over by Judge Telman Huseynov, were postponed until September 10 to allow Yusifov's newly appointed lawyer time to review the case.

However, Gasimli's legal team and his wife, Samira Gasimli, presented a starkly different account of events. According to their version, Gasimli is the true victim of a financial dispute.

Gasimli's wife told Toplum TV that Yusifov owed her husband money and was not threatened to repay it. She explained that in 2020, Gasimli provided Yusifov with a total of $20,000 to buy two bitcoins, but it was later discovered that one was never purchased and the other disappeared from the account. In January 2022, Yusifov and Gasimli reportedly reached an agreement for the debt to be repaid in monthly installments, and Yusifov signed a receipt.

When Yusifov subsequently left the country and cut off communication, Gasimli took civil legal action. In April 2024, the Mingachevir City Court ruled in Gasimli's favor, a decision that was later annulled on a technicality, with the case being referred to a commercial court.

The criminal charges now being heard in court were not the result of the initial investigation. Samira Gasimli stated that after the civil ruling, Yusifov wrote a letter to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Vilayat Eyvazov. In the letter, Yusifov claimed Gasimli was an anti-state politician who had threatened him for refusing to engage in anti-state activities. The Ministry of Internal Affairs investigated but ultimately closed the case due to a lack of evidence.

Gasimli's wife claims that in December 2024, law enforcement agencies received an order to arrest Gasimli, prompting them to reopen the case. Gasimli himself has stated in previous court sessions that he is the real victim and links his arrest to his critical political activities. The articles mention that Gasimli is a known critic of the government and was previously arrested for his role in a mass protest in 2018.

This case occurs amid a broader wave of repression against independent media and civil society in Azerbaijan that began in late 2023. Human rights defenders report that over 370 political prisoners are currently held in the country's prisons, with many independent journalists, activists, and human rights defenders arrested on what they say are politically motivated, fabricated charges.