IOLR

A preparatory court hearing was held on the criminal case against Rafig Zohrabov and Serdar Niftaliyev, accused of cybercrimes and creating appeals on behalf of state and public figures, which is being investigated by the State Security Service (SSS) of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AR). As reported by Oxu.Az, at the first trial chaired by judge of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes Vugar Seyidov, S. Niftaliyev’s lawyer filed a motion to replace the preventive measure in the form of arrest with house arrest. The court rejected the motion.

After clarifying the personal data of the accused, a decision was made to transfer the criminal case to court. The next trial is scheduled for April 17.

According to the information distributed by the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, the Main Investigation Department of the Service opened a criminal case under Articles 272.2.1, 272.2.2 (illegal seizure of computer information, committed repeatedly; by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, an organized group or a criminal community (organization), 273-2 (falsification of computer data) and 178.3.1 (fraud committed by an organized group) of the Criminal Code (CC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan in connection with the facts of making fake video messages on behalf of the President of Azerbaijan and other state and public figures using artificial intelligence programs – deepfake technologies, as well as posting fake ads on various social networks on behalf of the State Oil Company (SOCAR), Kapital Bank and Azerbaijan Bank of Azerbaijan (ABB) with the promise of large earnings in order to seize citizens’ funds.

A trial was held in the criminal case against Alesker Mammadli, Akif Gurbanov, Ramil Babayev, Ali Zeynalov, Mushfig Jabbarov, Ilkin Amrakhov and Ruslan Izzetli, defendants in the Toplum TV case. According to Report, the personal data of the defendants was clarified at the preparatory hearing in the Baku Grave Crimes Court chaired by Judge Azer Taghiyev.

Then petitions were filed asking to release several defendants under house arrest, but the court did not grant these petitions.

The preparatory hearing was postponed until April 24, as Akif Gurbanov’s lawyer Fuad Agayev did not familiarize himself with the criminal case.

The defendants were detained on March 6, 2024.

In March 2025, the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan continued measures to ensure reliable protection of the state border, combat smuggling, illegal migration and illegal drug trafficking, Oxu.Az reports with reference to the information of the SBS. During the month, 13 people were detained for violating the state border, including four citizens of Azerbaijan, three citizens of Iran, two citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan, one citizen of Sri Lanka and one citizen of Turkey. Border guards prevented an attempt to smuggle drugs across the state border from Iran using two drones. The drones were neutralized.

As a result of measures to combat illegal migration, five people were detained who tried to cross the border with fake passports and documents. 850 people were detained and brought to justice for violating the border regime.

As a result of the fight against drug trafficking, about 294 kg of drugs and more than 4 thousand psychotropic tablets were seized from circulation. Smuggling of goods worth almost 4 million manats, including drones, pneumatic weapons, medicines, pyrotechnics, alcohol and cigarettes, was stopped.

The State Border Service of Azerbaijan continues to take measures to ensure reliable protection of the country’s borders.

Employees of the State Border Service detained 319 wanted persons during operational activities in March, they were handed over to the relevant authorities, Report informs citing the State Border Service.

The agency also reported that 489 people banned to leave Azerbaijan were prevented from leaving and 9 people banned from crossing the border of Azerbaijan were prevented from entering.

Azerbaijan handed over to Uzbekistan a wanted citizen of this country Arslan Kholmurzaev (born in 1995), Oxu.Az reports with reference to the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the information, his extradition was carried out at the request of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan.

A. Kholmurzaev was wanted internationally on charges of fraud causing major damage. In January 2025, he was detained in Azerbaijan, after which the court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention for him.

The extradition was carried out in accordance with the Convention “On Legal Assistance and Legal Relations in Civil, Family and Criminal Cases” of October 7, 2002. The transfer took place under the escort of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan.

A sentence has been passed in Baku in the case of Elmeddin Bayramov, who, posing as a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Science and Education, deceived citizens, Oxu.Az reports. According to the decision of the Binagadi District Court, the man, accused under Articles 178.2.2 (fraud committed repeatedly) and 178.2.4 (fraud causing significant damage) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison.

The 2 days he spent in custody as a suspect and 3 months of house arrest were deducted from the appointed term. Thus, the final term of imprisonment will be 3 years, 2 months and 28 days.

11 people were recognized as victims in the criminal case. It follows from the case materials that E. Bayramov, posing as a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Science and Education, deceived citizens, promising them employment, pension restoration, repair and construction work, etc. The total amount of funds appropriated by him is about 100 thousand manats.