Rédaction The Prosecutor General’s Office of Azerbaijan has issued summonses for several prominent Azerbaijani citizens now living in exile, including bloggers, media figures, businessmen, and opposition activists. The individuals face a wide range of charges under the country’s Criminal Code—ranging from fraud to terrorism—though most claim the accusations are politically motivated attempts to silence dissenting voices abroad.
[by Ulviyya Karimova, published on 05/05/2025]
Among those summoned is Ilgar Hajiyev, the former head of “Akkord”, once one of the largest construction companies in the Caucasus.
Once deeply embedded in Azerbaijan’s business elite, Hajiyev claims that government-linked figures forcibly seized his company shares beginning in 2011, culminating in a full takeover by 2014. After going public with allegations of corruption and abuse involving President Ilham Aliyev and his associates, Hajiyev was charged with large-scale fraud under Article 178.3.2.
He insists the charges are baseless, noting that Interpol dropped the case in 2022, labeling it politically motivated. Hajiyev claims he and his family have continued to face threats and intimidation even while in exile and that the matter is now under review by U.S. institutions and international human rights organizations.
Another high-profile figure targeted is Mahammad Mirzali, a France-based blogger and former member of the Azerbaijani Popular Front Party. Mirzali has been a vocal critic of the government, particularly after organizing the “Stop the Deaths of Soldiers!” protest in Goychay.
He alleges that he was detained and tortured before fleeing the country, and that his family has been continuously harassed. Mirzali was stabbed in France in what he believes was a politically motivated attack, and is now charged under Articles 220.2 and 281.1, which relate to inciting mass unrest and calls for violent government overthrow.
Qabil Mammadov, another exiled blogger, faces perhaps the most severe legal action—24 separate charges, including terrorism.
He claims the terrorism charge is a strategic move by Azerbaijani authorities to facilitate his extradition from Europe : « Even Osama bin Laden was charged under fewer articles, » he said, calling the case « absurd and entirely politically motivated. »
He also asserts that his wife, Ayten Ramazanova, has been falsely implicated in the same case.
Mammadov has already successfully defended himself in German courts against many of these charges and vows to continue his legal fight. He accuses the Azerbaijani government of operating hit squads abroad, citing a string of suspicious attacks and deaths involving Azerbaijani exiles in Europe, including the killings of Vidadi Isgandarli in France and Bayram Mammadov in Turkiye, as well as violent attacks on Manaf Jalilzade, Vugar Rzayev, and others.
« Aliyev is not just an enemy of democracy—he is an enemy of humanity, » Mammadov declared, urging international institutions to cut diplomatic ties based on oil and gas interests and instead protect exiled activists from transnational repression.
Gurban Mammadov, lawyer and head of the online channel « Azerifreedom, » is also being summoned on terrorism-related charges. Previously imprisoned in Azerbaijan on different charges.
He is internationally recognized as a former political prisoner. Azerbaijani authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country. Another media figure targeted is Tural Sadigli, head of the “Azad Söz” (Free Word) channel.
Tural Sadigli is accused of inciting mass disorder and various unlawful activities. He rejects all accusations, asserting that his work focuses on anti-corruption investigations and promoting citizens’ rights. He has published reports exposing the Aliyev family’s assets abroad and believes these efforts have made him a target.
« The Azerbaijani government itself is violent. They are trying to silence us even beyond the country’s borders. » Tural Sadigli said. He also emphasized the increasing danger of practicing journalism both in and outside Azerbaijan.
« It has become impossible to do independent journalism within Azerbaijan, » he noted. « Now they are trying to suppress critical voices abroad, even through physical violence. »
International backlash and calls for protection
The Azerbaijani government denies all claims of political persecution, asserting that the charges are based on legitimate legal violations. However, human rights groups and international observers have frequently criticized Baku for its crackdown on independent media and political opposition.
The cases against these individuals have triggered renewed calls from activists for international organizations to take stronger action against what they describe as Azerbaijan’s expanding campaign of transnational repression. Qabil Mammadov, Tural Sadigli, and others are urging European governments to reevaluate their diplomatic ties with Baku, warning that complacency emboldens authoritarian behavior.
« European leaders must stop trading democracy for oil, » said Mammadov. « With more than 360 recognized political prisoners and dozens of jailed journalists, Azerbaijan remains under heavy scrutiny from global rights watchdogs. For these exiled voices, the latest wave of summonses marks not just legal harassment—but a broader effort to silence dissent across borders, » Qabil Mammadov concluded.
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