Azerbaijani lawyer Gahramanov linked his case to his professional activities.

The Ganja Serious Crimes Court has begun hearing the criminal case of lawyer Zabil Gahramanov. The defense insists on terminating the case due to lack of evidence of a crime or transferring the accused to house arrest, claiming that his prosecution is related to his professional activities.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on January 19, the court extended the pre-trial detention of lawyer Zabil Gahramanov for two months. The defense considers this decision unjustified and has filed an appeal. Gahramanov's colleagues believe the case is political. In November 2025, the court upheld the decision.

Yesterday, July 8, a preparatory hearing in the case of lawyer Zabil Gahramanov began at the Ganja Serious Crimes Court, chaired by Judge Ulker Babazade, as reported by his defender Saadat Yusifli to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

According to her, the defense first requested to remove Gahramanov from the glass cage and allow him to sit next to his lawyers. "Although the recognized victims in the case did not object to our request, the judge left it unconsidered," continued lawyer Yusifli.

Next, Gahramanov himself and the defense filed a motion to terminate the criminal case on acquittal grounds, and if this is not satisfied, to transfer the accused to house arrest. Judge Babazade stated that the decision would be announced at the next hearing.

Gahramanov himself rejects the charges in court and linked the case to his professional activities, another lawyer Rasul Jafarov reported to the correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot". The defense believes that there is no credible evidence for either the hooliganism or fraud charges in the case.

"There is no need to keep Gahramanov in custody on procedural grounds, as the investigation is complete and there are no hypothetical assumptions that, remaining free, the lawyer could exert pressure on the victims and witnesses. Zabil Gahramanov is a well-known figure in society, valuing his reputation. He is the head of a family, with minor children under his care. Moreover, he has a permanent place of residence. Therefore, there is no justification for further detention. During the judicial investigation, he can remain under house arrest," said Jafarov.

Relatives believe that a provocation has been carried out against Gahramanov. "The basis for Zabil's detention was an incident at a car wash. A man attacked him, and Zabil (in self-defense) kicked him. But immediately a complaint was filed against him, he was detained, and a criminal case was initiated, although usually in such cases everything ends with at most an administrative proceeding. Moreover, although the incident occurred in Goygol, Ganja police detained Zabil. To justify the investigation in Ganja, they fabricated a fraud case. This is revenge against Zabil for actively defending the cases of people who were illegally arrested in Ganja. He also took on the cases of political prisoners in the region," a relative of Gahramanov said.

Another lawyer of Gahramanov, Fariz Namazly, previously expressed regret that his colleague's case did not receive wide public resonance. "People indifferently watch as a lawyer's mouth is shut.... The most 'calm' times come precisely when people say: 'This does not concern me.' The knocks on the door do not come immediately; first, they come to the doors of others, and everyone is silent, then the turn gradually approaches," Namazly wrote on his Facebook page.

Earlier, the Institute for the Rule of Law of the International Union of Lawyers noted that Gahramanov's case may be related to his professional activities and criticism of illegal actions by the police in Azerbaijan. The International Observatory for the Protection of Lawyers called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release Gahramanov and drop all charges against him.