Prosecutor seeks 9-year prison sentence for Bashir Suleymanli

The state prosecutor has asked for a 9-year prison sentence for Bashir Suleymanli, head of the Institute for Citizens' Rights.

At a hearing at the Baku Grave Crimes Court on 5 November, presided over by Judge Vugar Seyidov, the prosecutor proposed that Bashir Suleymanli be sentenced to 9 years' imprisonment and barred from holding certain positions for 3 years. The defence asked for time to prepare its argument. The next court hearing has been set for 19 November.

Investigators accuse Bashir Suleymanli of embezzling more than 148,000 manat in grant funds. According to the investigation, Suleymanli embezzled funds allocated by the US German Marshall Fund and other foundations for the implementation of social projects.

Bashir Suleymanli and Mammad Alpay, head of the Election Monitoring Alliance, were detained on 14 March 2025 after the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office searched their homes. The Binagadi District Court ordered them held in pre-trial detention for 3 months and 28 days, and the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the decision.

At the time of their arrest they were charged under Articles 313 (forgery by an official), 193-1.3.2 (legalisation of property obtained through crime in large amounts) and 308.2 (abuse of official powers) of the Criminal Code. Both men rejected the charges.

The Institute for Citizens' Rights is a non-governmental organisation that provides free legal aid to citizens and works in civic education.