Son of Man Sentenced to Life in Fazil Mustafa Assassination Attempt Gets 10 Years

Fazil Mustafa

Abulfaz Saricanov, son of Azer Saricanov, who was sentenced to life for the attempted assassination of Fazil Mustafa, has received a 10-year prison sentence.

On November 13, Judge Sabina Mammadzade delivered the verdict in the case at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Abulfaz Saricanov was given 10 years imprisonment, having been arrested in March 2025.

The State Security Service (DTX) charged him under Article 28.277 of the Criminal Code for preparing an assassination attempt on a state or public figure.

The court proceedings were closed to the public.

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Saricanov's lawyer, argued that closing the court for these charges was incorrect. Family members were only allowed in for the verdict. The prosecutor requested a 10-year sentence, which was granted.

Arzu Abdulla reported that TV host Kamran Hasanli, military expert Telman Gasimov, and journalist Elchin Alıoğlu were recognized as victims in the case. Only Telman Gasimov and Elchin Alıoğlu attended the hearings, stating they had no complaints.

Telman Gasimov told the court he had no complaints and asked the judge to release Saricanov, stating he posed no threat and committed no crime beyond opening a 'TikTok' page.

The attempted assassination of Fazil Mustafa occurred in 2023, where he was shot outside his house in Zabrat and wounded in the shoulder and hip.

Five people were arrested after the shooting. The indictment said the assassination was ordered from Iran, with $30,000 sent to carry it out.

Azer Saricanov, Abulfaz's father, was accused of organizing the crime and received a life sentence. One person received 4 years, and three others received 18-20 years. They appealed, but the verdict was unchanged.

The accused admitted to shooting Mustafa but denied it was an order from Iran. They claimed they only meant to punish him for his religious views, shooting him in the shoulder and leg instead of aiming for vital organs.