An Azerbaijani activist has denied accusations of illegally receiving grants.

The trial of Mehriban Rahimli, accused of illegally receiving grants, has begun in Baku. She denied the charges, stating that she had been receiving a salary from a foreign non-governmental organization for 17 years, paid in accordance with Azerbaijani laws.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, in January 2024, the bank accounts of Mehriban Rahimli, a consultant for a foreign organization, were frozen in Azerbaijan. She told a Caucasian Knot correspondent that she discovered this when she went to the bank to withdraw her accrued salary.

On February 11, the Baku Grave Crimes Court, chaired by Judge Namig Kerimov, held a preparatory hearing in the case of activist Mehriban Rahimli, who worked for many years as a consultant for an NGO. She is being prosecuted in the so-called case against local and foreign NGOs, which is being investigated by the Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan.

Rahimli, who is under "police surveillance," has been charged under Article 193-1.3.2 (large-scale legalization of property obtained by criminal means) and 308 (abuse of office) and 313 (official forgery) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, lawyer Javad Javadov told the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

However, according to him, the charges are unfounded and the defense at the preparatory hearing petitioned to terminate the criminal case.

As the lawyer explained, the investigation presented the funds received by Rahimli as a salary as "grants".

"Mehriban Rahimli did not participate in the conclusion of grant agreements, did not receive or distribute grants, and did not have the authority to accept or transfer grant funds. "She acted solely as a consultant, receiving a salary under a service agreement," Javadov noted.

At the same time, the lawyer added, Rahimli received her salary entirely legally and paid her taxes and mandatory social insurance contributions on time.

"But even if Mehriban Rahimli had received grants, these actions still would not constitute a crime." "Because violating the requirements related to grants only entails administrative liability," Javadov said.

Another petition by the lawyer concerned a change in the measure of restraint.

Noting that during the investigation, Rahimli had been placed under police supervision as a preventive measure, the lawyer requested that it be changed to a travel ban, which imposes fewer restrictions.

Rahimli herself, in a conversation with a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent, noted that she had been collaborating with a foreign NGO since 2008 and had never received grants from it. Her collaboration was based on a service agreement drawn up in accordance with Azerbaijani law. According to Rahimli, she regularly paid her taxes and mandatory social insurance contributions.

"How can it be a grant to pay an employee the same amount every month for 17 years?" Rahimli said.

The criminal case and numerous interrogations undermined her health. "Instead of directing my potential to the development of civil society and the country, I spent the last two years of my life practically in the police, the prosecutor's office, and the courts. I continue to be subjected to countless interrogations at court hearings about myself and our partners. I lost 16 kilograms, and due to stress, I developed diabetes. Doctors even tried to control my sugar levels with insulin injections four times a day, now we are trying to regulate them again with medication and walks. "I'm not complaining, I'm just proud of what I've done, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to support wonderful initiatives that will impact the lives of the people in my lifetime," Rahimli said.

The court, without granting any of the motions, accepted the case.

The trial is scheduled for February 25, an employee of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

Representatives of the prosecution were not available for comment.

"The criminal case against local and foreign NGOs was opened back in 2014. Then there was a wave of arrests of well-known human rights activists. They were subsequently released early, and the case was suspended. But in March of this year, the case was reopened, and it assumed the scope of a campaign against the remnants of civil society. More than 100 people were involved in the investigation, including representatives of pro-government NGOs, as well as employees of international donor organizations. Most were questioned with a warning of new challenges, but more than 10 people were charged, some in absentia, since they had already fled the country," a legal expert, who wished to remain anonymous, previously told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.