Zaur Asgarov – member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Date of arrest: 7 March 2025 Charge: Article 281.2 (Public appeals directed against the state, committed repeatedly or by group of persons) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 7 March 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 Zaur Asgarov a measure of restraint in the form of arrest for a period of 2 months. The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended times Sentence: On 5 June 2025, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes issued a verdict: to find Zaur Asgarov guilty and sentenced him to 5 years and 6 months of imprisonment with serving the sentence in a general regime penal institution. Judge: Azar Taqiyev Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center № 1 at the Kyurdakhani settlement in Baku City Sabunchu District Conclusion: According to Tazakhan Miralamli, a spokesperson of the PFPA press service, "A member of the PFPA Qaradaq district branch, Gunduz Mirzayev, and an activist of the same branch, Zaur Asgarov, were detained on 7 March, and the Court issued against them a measure of restraint in the form of arrest for two months. They were charged with " the public calls against the state "; they allegedly called for the seizure of power on social networks. However, it was not true. They were criticizing the government policies and merely urging the citizens to raise their protesting voices albeit on the social networking platforms. On 13 March 2025, the Court of Appeal considered their claims but left the activists in custody. The case against Mirzayev and Asgarov is politically motivated". In response, Asgarov's lawyer, Nemat Karimli, pointed out the groundlessness of the charges brought against the activist: "Asgarov is charged under the Article 281.2 of the AR Criminal Code. In particular, he is accused of appeals to “forcible seizure of power”. The prosecution is based on Asgarov's expressions in a closed group on WhatsApp. However, his postings are unreasonably interpreted as appeals to “forcible seizure of power”. Asgarov criticised the government indicating that change should not be expected from the current cabinet, and a new leadership is needed. But he did not say that the change of power should be done by force. What he wrote is within the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Article 10 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms". 77