Human Rights Defender Rufat Safarov's Trial Begins Amid Claims of Political Persecution

Rufat Safarov

The trial of prominent human rights defender Rufat Safarov, co-founder and executive director of the "Line of Defense" human rights organization, has commenced in Baku. Safarov, who has been held in pre-trial detention for the past seven months, vehemently denies the charges against him, asserting that his arrest is a direct consequence of his human rights advocacy.

The preparatory hearing took place on June 30 at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Aygun Gurbanova. Safarov's lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, successfully motioned for his client to be removed from the glass defendant's cage and seated alongside him during the proceedings. However, a subsequent motion by Sadigov to replace Safarov's pre-trial detention with house arrest was denied by the court. The next review hearing is scheduled for July 14.

Safarov was detained on December 3, 2024, and faces charges under Article 178.3.2 (fraud – committed with significant damage), Article 127.2.3 (intentionally causing less serious harm to health), and Article 221.1 (hooliganism) of the Criminal Code. These charges carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

The criminal case alleges that Safarov defrauded a man named Natig Imamguliyev (also referred to as Natig Imamverdiyev in some reports) of 60,000 manats under the guise of selling land in Novkhani, and then assaulted him during an argument on December 3, 2014. Safarov, however, dismisses these accusations as fabricated. He claims he had never even seen Imamguliyev before the incident in his garage on the evening of his arrest, where he was attacked before police immediately entered, handcuffed him, and took him away.

A History of Persecution and International Recognition

This is not Safarov's first encounter with the Azerbaijani justice system. He has a notable history of public service and subsequent legal troubles. At just 23, he served on the Supervisory Board of "Aqrolizinq" JSC, then as a chief consultant at the Ministry of Agriculture, and later as an investigator in the prosecutor's office. In December 2015, he resigned from his position as a prosecutor's investigator, publicly protesting human rights violations and the non-functioning of laws in the country.

"I turned my back on the position; I did not want to be part of a repressive regime," Safarov stated during the recent hearing. "I worked for the protection of human rights. I fought for the freedom of you, the judges. Now, to say that I committed fraud for mercenary purposes is ridiculous."

Following his 2015 resignation, Safarov faced immediate repercussions. His apartment was searched, a criminal case was initiated against him, and he was arrested. In 2016, he was convicted on bribery charges and sentenced to 9 years in prison. Both local and international human rights organizations recognized him as a political prisoner during this period.

He was released early in March 2019 by a pardon order signed by President Ilham Aliyev. After his release, he co-founded the "Line of Defense" organization, intensifying his human rights advocacy.

Safarov's dedication to human rights has not gone unnoticed internationally. On December 10, 2024 – International Human Rights Day – the US Department of State honored him with the "Powerful Human Rights Defender of the Year" award in Washington. Then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented the award, placing it on an empty chair to symbolize Safarov's absence due to his imprisonment. Blinken's speech also highlighted the arrests of socio-political activists in Azerbaijan, including Safarov.

Safarov believes his current arrest and charges are a direct punishment for receiving this prestigious international award. Meanwhile, local human rights defenders continue to consider him a political prisoner. Azerbaijani officials, however, consistently maintain that no one in the country is arrested for political motives.

The case continues to draw significant attention from human rights advocates and international observers, who view it as a critical test of judicial independence and the state of human rights in Azerbaijan.