Azerbaijan sentences opposition leader's bodyguard to nine years

Kenan Basgal

Azerbaijan sentences opposition leader's bodyguard to nine years in prison

An Azerbaijani court has sentenced a former bodyguard of opposition leader Ali Kerimli to nine years in prison on assault charges that rights groups say are politically motivated.

Kenan Zeynalov, 50, also known as Kenan Basgal, was convicted on Thursday at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes of aggravated bodily harm and hooliganism involving a weapon.

Prosecutors alleged that Zeynalov stabbed a man, identified as Anar Rahimov, during an altercation in March last year.

Zeynalov denied the charges in his final address to the court, calling the case against him fabricated.

"I do not know this man at all," Zeynalov told the court. He said he was approached by Rahimov outside a mosque on 21 March 2025 while heading to evening prayers, after which Rahimov fell to the ground and claimed to have been stabbed.

Zeynalov had previously testified as a defence witness for senior opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, who was sentenced to nine years in prison on fraud charges. Zeynalov suggested his conviction was retaliation for his testimony in that trial.

His defence lawyer, Nazim Musayev, said the victim had faced criminal charges himself before fleeing to Georgia. After returning to Baku, the charges against Rahimov were dropped around the time he appeared as the complainant in Zeynalov’s trial.

Musayev said the defence team would appeal against the verdict, arguing the trial failed to meet standards of fairness after the court rejected motions to summon key witnesses.

Ali Kerimli, leader of the opposition Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), described the arrest of his former volunteer bodyguard as an "extraordinary framing".

Nearly 20 members of the PFPA, including several who served as bodyguards or drivers for Kerimli, are currently in prison. The party maintains that all the detentions are politically motivated orders from the government.

Human rights activists note a recurring pattern in recent years of Azerbaijani dissidents being jailed on stabbing or hooliganism charges following public criticism of the government.

Rights groups currently estimate there are 328 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani officials reject allegations of holding political prisoners, maintaining that those convicted have committed criminal offences under the law.