Elnur Hasanov - member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Date of arrest: 28 November 2023 Charge: Article 234.4.3 (Illegal manufacturing, purchase, storage, transportation, transfer or selling of narcotics, psychotropic substances committed in large amount) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 30 November 2023, the Baku City Khatai District Court issued a ruling: to satisfy the investigator's petition to elect a measure of restraint in the form of arrest and impose on Rza Safarsoy a measure of restraint in the form of arrest for a period of 3 months. The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Sentence: On 2 August 2024, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes issued a verdict: since the prosecution failed to provide any convincing evidence in the course of the trial, the Judge substituted the previous Article of the Prosecution with a new one, 234.1-1 (Illegal acquisition or storage of drugs or psychotropic substances without the purpose of sale in an amount exceeding the amount necessary for personal consumption, committed in a large amount) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. And afterwards Elnur Hasanov was sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment Judge: Javid Huseynov Conclusion: Elnur Hasanov was detained by police in civilian clothes at the car market. This happened after Hasanov criticized the traffic police on social networks, accusing them of unjustified application of fines. He also criticized the authorities of the country where the laws do not work. At the trial, the defense asked the Court to issue an acquittal verdict taking into account E. Hasanov's innocence. According to the lawyer, Nemat Karimli, there were numerous violations in the case investigation: "The entire accusation is based on the testimonies of two policemen, and their statements are absolutely identical up to the dots and commas. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that they simply signed the prepared statements at the preliminary investigation.” In addition, Mr. Karimli emphasized that the pieces of evidence against Hasanov were not compiled in accordance with the law, "Elnur Hasanov was subjected to a search after his arrest at the police station. According to the decision of the Plenum of the Azerbaijani Supreme Court and the case law of the ECHR, a search should be conducted immediately at the place of arrest. It is not permissible to search a suspect when he is already under the police supervision, it casts doubt on the truthfulness of the evidence. Furthermore, the investigation did not provide proof of the allegation that there was operational information that Hasanov had drugs in 57 his possession. All incoming operational information must be recorded in the police registry book, each sheet of which is bound and cannot be entered ex post facto. We insisted that the police submit an extract of operative information on Hasanov from the registration book, but that motion was not granted. We are convinced that there was no such information, therefore the extract from the register was not sought." The lawyer further pointed out that his client had been subjected to torture after his detention and forced to self-incrimination, "When a preventive measure was imposed, he told the Judge about it, but the latter did not address an order to the Prosecutor's Office to investigate Hasanov's statements. When I took over the defense, we filed a new petition and the investigation was launched, but the prosecutor's office declined to open a criminal case on the facts of torture". In his last word, Mr.Hasanov called the accusation on drug charges a slander. As his lawyer said, "Elnur said that he had been arrested for his political views and criticizing the traffic police due to the unjustified fines issued to him. On each occasion, he prepared video materials about the traffic police officers' misconduct. Hasanov said that he had demanded the resignation of the state traffic police chief and criticized the leadership of the Interior Ministry, whereupon he was arrested.”