Zamin Zaki – public activist Arrested: 9 April 2025 Charge: Articles 193-1.3.2 (Legalization of money or other property obtained by crime, committed in large amount); 308.2 (Abusing official powers, which caused grave consequences) and 313 (Official forgery) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 9 April 2025, the Baku City Binagadi 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 Zamin Zaki a measure of restraint in the form of arrest for a period of 3 months and 4 days. The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended times. Sentence: On 11 March 2026, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes issued a verdict: to find Zamin Zaki guilty and sentenced him to 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment with serving the sentence in a general regime penal institution. Judge: Elmin Rustamov Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center № 1 at the Kyurdakhani settlement in Baku City Sabunchu District Conclusion: In early March 2025, the pro-government media announced that the General Prosecutor's Office had initiated the criminal proceedings against those non-governmental organisations in Azerbaijan that had received grants on behalf of Western international donors in previous years. According to the General Prosecutor's Office, the funds from the grants received on behalf of the international organisations were spent ‘to undermine socio-political stability’ under the pretext of ‘legal protection’ of vulnerable population groups, as well as to promote an anti-war ideology, LGBT propaganda and other ‘ultra-liberals’ , and conduct counter-narratives against mind-set-values. On 9 April 2025, Asaf Ahmadov, the Head of Ganja Regional Public Centre, and Zamin Zaki, a public activist and expert on social issues, were detained and taken to the General Prosecutor Office of Azerbaijan, Investigation Department. The detention was carried out as part of this repressive campaign. They were told that they had been involved in the so-called “NGO case” and charged with the economic -related offences. In a statement to the press, the activist’s lawyer, Gunay Ismayilova, said that her client had denied the charges and stated that he had been persecuted for his public activities. Ismayilova added that the defence had insisted on an acquittal and, therefore did not agree with the verdict and would lodge an appeal against it. The lawyer noted: “The classification of the use of grants as ‘money laundering’ is unfounded, as these funds constituted financial assistance for a civil society. On the other hand, even if the grants had not been registered, this would only result in an administrative penalty in the form of a fine”. 76