Azerbaijan critic Namizad Safarov denies fraud at Baku trial

Namizad Safarov

An imprisoned Azerbaijani lawyer and government critic has pleaded not guilty to large-scale fraud at a court in Baku, saying he has never met or spoken to the woman he is accused of swindling.

Namizad Safarov, 72, has been held in custody since 9 December last year on charges of defrauding a woman of 53,000 Azerbaijani manats (£24,500; $31,000) by promising to secure her a hospital job.

Speaking at the Baku Grave Crimes Court on 2 July, Mr Safarov rejected the charges as entirely fabricated and politically motivated.

"If there is the will, it is not difficult to reveal that this charge is false," Mr Safarov told the court.

The prosecution alleges that Mr Safarov promised Gunel Efendiyeva a position at a local hospital through official contacts, but failed to deliver after receiving the money. Ms Efendiyeva, who is designated as the victim in the case, did not attend the hearing.

Mr Safarov requested that the court acquire mobile phone location tracking data for both himself and Ms Efendiyeva. He argued the data would prove the two had never been in the same vicinity and had never met.

The presiding judge, Mahira Karimova, dismissed the request along with other defence motions, including calls to review security camera footage from near Mr Safarov's office and to question witnesses present at his arrest.

The court also rejected a petition for Mr Safarov to be released to house arrest ahead of his verdict. The defence had cited his age and deteriorating health as grounds for bail, stating he had no intention of fleeing.

Mr Safarov faces a prison sentence of between five and 10 years if convicted under Article 178.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, which covers fraud resulting in major damage.

He and his supporters maintain that the prosecution is a punitive measure designed to silence his vocal opposition to the government.

The Azerbaijan People's Parliament, an opposition group formed by political exiles of which Mr Safarov is a member, described the case as an "unfounded, politically motivated act designed to create fear in society."

Mr Safarov, a former member of the National Council opposition coalition, has previously run as a candidate for both parliament and the presidency. He was disbarred from the country's Bar Association in 2005 after publicly criticising its leadership.

Azerbaijan's government has consistently denied holding political prisoners, insisting that individuals on such lists have been prosecuted strictly for criminal offences. However, local human rights organisations estimate there are currently more than 300 political prisoners in the country.

The trial is scheduled to resume on 30 July.