Zabil Gahramanov Arrested for 3 Months

Zabil Gahramanov

The Ganja City Court chose a measure of restraint in the form of arrest for 3 months against lawyer Zabil Gahramanov, his relatives reported.

Gahramanov is charged under Article 221.2.2 (Hooliganism committed with resistance to a representative of authority or another person) and Article 178.2.4 (Fraud committed with infliction of significant damage) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Under these articles, Gahramanov faces a penalty of up to 7 years in prison. The lawyer denies the charges.

Gahramanov was detained on October 23, allegedly for inflicting bodily harm on a person at a car wash.

Previously, Gahramanov's legal practice had been suspended.

The Presidium of the Bar Association made this decision on October 8, allegedly "for disciplinary violations" by Gahramanov.

Local activists believe that the suspension of Gahramanov's activities is linked to his social media posts about police work in Ganja.

Gahramanov acted as a defense attorney in several high-profile cases, including the case of Ilkin Suleymanov (accused of the kidnapping and murder of 11-year-old Narmin Guliyeva) and Polad Ismayilov (sentenced to 11 years for murder, and subsequently acquitted four years later). He also represented the interests of Sahib Mammadov, Shahin Hajiyev, and other opposition figures.