Azerbaijani Human Rights Defender Rufat Safarov Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison

Baku, June 12, 2026 — Azerbaijani human rights defender Rufat Safarov has been sentenced to eight years in prison in a case that critics describe as another blow to civil society and independent activism in the country.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday by the Baku Court for Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Aygun Gurbanova. Prosecutors had previously requested a nine-year prison sentence.

Safarov, the executive director of the human rights organization “Defense Line,” was arrested on December 3, 2024. He was charged with causing less serious bodily harm, large-scale fraud, and hooliganism under several articles of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. If convicted on all counts, he faced up to ten years in prison.

Safarov has consistently rejected the accusations, arguing that the case against him is politically motivated and directly linked to his human rights activities. His supporters and fellow activists have echoed those claims, describing the prosecution as part of a broader campaign against independent voices in Azerbaijan.

The conviction comes amid growing concerns from local and international rights organizations about the shrinking space for civil society, independent journalism, and political dissent in the country. Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized Azerbaijani authorities for using criminal prosecutions against activists, journalists, and government critics.

Safarov is a former investigator with the Zardab District Prosecutor’s Office. In 2015, he publicly resigned from the prosecution service and openly criticized what he described as systemic problems within state institutions. Shortly afterward, he was arrested on corruption-related charges and sentenced to nine years in prison.

He was released in March 2019 under a presidential pardon and subsequently became one of Azerbaijan’s most prominent human rights advocates, documenting alleged abuses and advocating for political prisoners.

Several international human rights organizations have expressed concern over Safarov’s latest arrest and prosecution, warning that the case raises serious questions about judicial independence, due process, and the treatment of government critics.

The verdict is likely to intensify scrutiny of Azerbaijan’s human rights record at a time when international organizations have repeatedly called on the authorities to uphold freedom of expression, protect civil society, and ensure fair trial guarantees.