Nazim Baydamirli (Mammadov) – ex-MP and public activist Date of arrest: 4 July 2023 Charge: Article 182.2.4 (Extortion with the purpose to seize property in significant amount) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. 99 On 5 July 2023, the Baku City Narimanov District Court issued a ruling: to apply a preventive measure against Nazim Baydamirli in the form of arrest for a period of 4 months. The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Sentence: On 30 September 2024, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes issued a verdict: to find Nazim Baydamirli guilty on all charges and sentenced him to 8 years imprisonment with serving the sentence in a general regime penal institution. On 1 September 2023, another charge was brought against Nazim Baydamirli, violation of the Article 182.2.2 (Extortion, is requirement to transfer another's property or right on property or commitment of other actions which is admitted as in property nature under threat of application of violence, distribution of data, dishonoring a victim or his close relatives, as well as by threat of destruction of property belonging to them, committed repeatedly) of the AR Criminal Code. According to the lawyer, Aqil Layij, this charge is based on the fact that Nazim Baydamirli allegedly extorted money from someone in the city of Lipetsk of the Russian Federation in 1996. Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center № 1 at the Kyurdakhani settlement in Baku City Sabunchu District Conclusion: Nazim Baydamirli (Mammadov) was born in 1963 in the village of Chay Rasullu in Gadabay region. In the period from 2005 to 2010 he was a MP of the Azerbaijani Parliament elected at the Gadabay region. On 20 June 2023, the residents of Soyudlu village of Gadabay region held a rally protesting against the environmental pollution caused by a nearby gold mining facility. The police violently cracked down on the protest. As a result of the police actions 10 people had been injured whereas five others had been detained and arrested. Following the protests in the village of Soyudlu in Gadabay region, Nazim Baydamirli expressed the legitimacy of the citizens' claims regarding the harmful impact on human health and environment caused by the activities of the nearby gold mining facility. As a result, he was detained on 4 July. He called his lawyer and informed him that he had been brought in due to his position in connection with the riots in Soyudlu village of Gadabay region. According to the official version of the MIA press service, one of the citizens applied to the police with a complaint that Baydamirli had extorted 50,000 manat ($29,400) from him, otherwise the businessman threatened to spread defamatory images of that citizen. According to the complainant, on 24 June that year he handed over AZN 10,000 ($5,900) to the ex-deputy, but the latter was not pleased with the amount and continued to threaten him.