This week, economist Fazil Qasimov remains on a prolonged hunger strike protesting his imprisonment, political activist Elvin Mustafayev faces ongoing solitary confinement as his case awaits court review, and Azerbaijani authorities have issued arrest warrants against several exiled government critics.
Fazil Gasimov continues his hunger strike
Fazil Gasimov, an Azerbaijani economist and PhD student at Istanbul University, is currently on a prolonged hunger strike in protest of his imprisonment. He was detained in Turkey and extradited to Azerbaijan in connection with the criminal case against opposition economist Gubad Ibadoghlu.
On March 13, 2025, Gasimov was sentenced to nine years in prison under charges of producing or selling counterfeit currency as part of an organized group. He denies all accusations, calling the charges fabricated and politically motivated.
According to his family, Gasimov began his second hunger strike on May 10, 2025, and as of June 6, he has been refusing food for 27 days, consuming only water. Since May 21, he has been held in solitary confinement (“karser”), and authorities have reportedly told him he will only be released from this punishment if he ends the hunger strike—something he has refused to do.
His brother reports that Gasimov’s health is deteriorating rapidly: he is suffering from kidney pain, frequent blackouts, and can barely stand. Despite his condition, medical care has been minimal—limited to having his blood pressure checked. Gasimov is being held in the Umbaki Penal Facility, and his next court hearing is scheduled for June 17 at the Baku Court of Appeal.
The case against him is tied to that of Gubad Ibadoghlu, who was also charged in 2023 with currency-related crimes and possession of extremist religious materials. Ibadoghlu, who also denies the charges, was released from prison and placed under house arrest in April 2024.
Court reviews imprisoned activist Elvin Mustafayev’s case
Elvin Mustafayev, currently serving a prison sentence in a high-security facility, is the subject of a recent court submission regarding the transfer of his imprisonment to the strict-regime Gobustan Prison until August 4, 2026. The Nizami District Court is scheduled to review this case on June 12, 2025.
Mustafayev’s lawyer, Zibeyda Sadıkova, reported that she attempted to visit him on June 4 at Prison No. 6 but was denied access by the prison chief, who claimed Mustafayev was in solitary confinement. Sadıkova has filed complaints with the Penitentiary Service and the Ombudsman regarding this issue. Mustafayev was placed in solitary confinement after beginning a hunger strike on May 6, 2025, demanding the release of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu and other political prisoners. Although he was later transferred to Prison No. 6, he remains in solitary confinement and is not allowed visits from family or his lawyer. He is scheduled for release on June 29, 2025.
Elvin Mustafayev was arrested on August 4, 2023, and convicted on January 31, 2024, under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code for drug trafficking, receiving a three-year prison sentence. He denies the charges, claiming he was given drugs against his will.
Mustafayev is one of four members of the “İşçi Masası” Trade Union Confederation, established in 2022 to protect workers’ rights in Azerbaijan, who are currently imprisoned. Although facing different charges, all four maintain that the accusations against them are politically motivated and fabricated.
Azerbaijan issues arrest warrants for exiled critics
In June 2025, Azerbaijani courts issued in-absentia arrest warrants for several exiled bloggers, journalists, and public figures, accusing them under various articles of the country’s Criminal Code. On June 2, the Binagadi District Court approved warrants for Tural Sadigli (residing in Germany), charged under Article 178.3.1 (fraud by an organized group), Article 220.2 (incitement to mass unrest), and Article 320 (forgery of documents). Ordukhan Temirkhan (a Dutch citizen) was charged under Article 220.2 and Article 281.2 (open provocation against the state). Elshad Abdullayev (a former university rector living in France) was charged under Article 311.1 (bribery), Article 213.1 (tax evasion), and Article 130.1 (illegal organ trafficking).
The same court also issued warrants for journalist Ganimat Zahid (editor-in-chief of Azadlig), columnist Natig Adilov, and former police officer Emin Ahmedbeyov, who is now a host on the France-based YouTube channel “Azerbaijan Hour.” All three are known government critics living in France.
On June 3, the Binagadi District Court issued additional arrest warrants for bloggers Imameddin Alimanov, Suleyman Suleymanli, Elshad Mammadov, Mahammad Mirzali, Qabil Mammadov, Orkhan Agayev, and Qurban Mammadov. These individuals are accused under Article 220.2 (calls for mass disorder and disobedience to authorities) and Article 281.1 (calls for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order and dissemination of such content).According to Azerbaijani authorities, all of the accused used social media and online platforms to publish materials calling for mass protests and resistance against the government. These recent court decisions are part of an ongoing campaign that began in March 2025, when the Prosecutor General’s Office summoned multiple exiled critics for investigation into a range of criminal allegations.
The post Friday Wrap-up: Fazil Qasimov’s hunger strike continues, Elvin Mustafayev faces solitary confinement, and Azerbaijani courts issue arrest warrants for exiled critics appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
