Tofiq Rashid oglu Yaqublu – member of the Musavat Party and Coordinating Center of the National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan Date of arrest: 14 December 2023 Charge: Articles 178.3.2 (Swindle, that is maintaining another persons property or buying another persons property by a deceit or breach of confidence, committed by organized group) and 320.1 (Fake of certificate or other official document giving the rights or releasing from duties, with a view of its use or selling of such document, as well as manufacturing in same 60 purposes or selling of counterfeit state awards of the Azerbaijan Republic, stamps, seals, forms) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 15 December 2023, the Baku City Narimanov District Court issued an order: to satisfy the investigator’s petition on arrest and issue a preventive measure against Tofiq Yaqublu in the form of detention for a period of 4 months. The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Sentence: On 10 March 2025, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes sentenced him to 9 years imprisonment. Judge: Elnur Nuriyev Place of detention: Penal Colony № 17 at the Bina settlement in Baku City Azizbayov District Conclusion: Tofiq Yaqublu is one of the most famous Azerbaijani politicians, a former deputy chairman of the opposition "Musavat" Party, a member of the Coordination Center of the National Council of Democratic Forces of Azerbaijan, has been repeatedly arrested, tortured and imprisoned. In March 2014, he was sentenced to 5-year-imprisonement. He was recognized as a prisoner of conscience by the Amnesty International. He was released in March 2016, since then he has been repeatedly arrested and beaten. In late November - early December 2023, in connection with the arrests of journalists in the country, Tofiq Yaqublu harshly condemned the Azerbaijani authorities in his publications on social networks and in interviews, pointing out to the police arbitrariness at the time of recent arrests. Tofiq Yaqublu called to boycott the early presidential elections declared by the authorities. The authorities' response was immediate: on 14 December 2023, the well-known politician was detained by the officers from the Baku City Narimanov District Police Department. At the same time, the police burst into his apartment and searched it. The search caused a strong public outcry, as the politician's daughter, Nigar Hazi, posted on Facebook and then told the journalists that the police frankly planted the money during the search, "They "found" money in our house. They planted 5,000 euros, 2,500 manats and some dollars." As it was later revealed, Yaqublu was charged with crimes related to fraud and forgery. Tofiq Yaqublu was initially brought in as a suspect in a case of fraud with major loss, forgery of official documents and their use. However, according to the politician's lawyer, Neimat Karimli, the investigation soon brought charges against Tofiq Yaqublu accusing him in preparing and sending a particular individual abroad in order to obtain political asylum there: "Allegedly, in exchange for a monetary reward, Tofig Yagublu promised the man to provide him with the necessary documents in order to obtain a status of political asylum in Europe. According to the investigation, they met and made a deal on 8 December 2023, but on 11 December, a criminal case was opened on the matter. It is impossible to investigate and determine the facts so quickly in cases of fraud. It is obvious that the case was fabricated," said the lawyer. The defense lawyer abstained from commenting in detail, referring to the confidentiality obligations of the inquiry. He noted that Tofiq Yaqublu has categorically refused to accept the charges and linked the prosecution with his opposition activities. 61