Prosecutor requests imprisonment as punishment for defendants in “Abzas Media” case

At the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, a public prosecutor requested terms of 11 to 12 years of imprisonment for employees of the “Abzas Media” online media outlet. The defence does not agree with the public prosecutor’s speech and intends to ask for the defendants to be acquitted.

On May 20, the public prosecutor delivered his final speech at the trial in the “Abzas Media” case. The public prosecutor proposed sentencing Ulvi Gasanli, Khafiz Babaly, and Farid Mekhralizade to 12 years of imprisonment, finding them guilty under all charges. For Sevindj Vagifgyzy, Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasymova, and Mokhammed Kekalov, the public prosecutor requested 11 years of imprisonment.

The defenders have expressed their disagreement with the public prosecutor’s speech. “There is not a single piece of evidence against Khafiz Babaly for the crimes he is accused of. Khafiz Babaly was arrested in connection with a case on smuggling, although he did not travel abroad during the period of his alleged illegal actions specified by the investigation. All charges against Khafiz Babaly were based on the testimony voiced by Mokhammed Kekalov, which he retracted in court,” Khafiz Babaly’s defender Rasul Djafarov told a “Caucasian Knot” correspondent. The advocate has stated that the defence will ask the court for an acquittal.

In turn, Elchin Sadygov, a defender of Sevindj Vagifgyzy, claims that the public prosecutor’s statement does not reflect the results of the investigation. “No reliable evidence has been presented during the trial. As Sevindj Vagifgyzy herself stated, she and her colleagues are being persecuted for their professional activities, and in particular, for investigating facts of corruption,” Elchin Sadygov claimed. The advocate has emphasized that the consolidated position of the defence is to request the acquittal of the defendants.

A representative of the public prosecution was not available for comments. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 10.

This was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 20, 2025 at 05:01 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.