The defendants in the Toplum TV case made their final statements in court.

The head of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives, Akif Gurbanov, speaking with his final word in court, stated the unfounded nature of the accusations and the lack of evidence of his guilt. A member of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives, Ruslan Izzetli, and Toplum TV employee Farid Ismailov also rejected the accusations.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the activists and journalists arrested in the Toplum TV case, who were initially accused of currency smuggling, were presented with new charges in January under six criminal articles. They face up to 12 years in prison. Toplum TV positioned itself as an independent platform for expressing different opinions on socio-political and socio-economic events. On February 10, Toplum TV announced the suspension of its activities in Azerbaijan. On June 8, the prosecutor requested long prison terms for the defendants – from 13 to 16 years. The defense asked to acquit the defendants.

On July 13, the final statements of the defendants began in the Baku Serious Crimes Court during the Toplum TV case hearing.

During the process chaired by Judge Azer Tagiyev, the main figure – the head of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI) and speaker of the "Third Republic" Platform (Resplatforma) Akif Gurbanov, told an anonymous correspondent from "Caucasian Knot" who observed the trial.

According to him, the investigative actions were conducted from the very beginning in violation of procedural norms.

"Although the basis for initiating the criminal case was said to be materials from the preliminary investigation, these documents have not yet been presented to either the court or the defendants. Nevertheless, the state prosecutor referred to these materials in his speech. We are called an organized criminal group. However, not a single piece of evidence has been presented regarding when, what specific crime, and how we planned to commit it," the activist quoted Gurbanov's words.

Gurbanov also pointed out the innocence of other figures in the case regarding the accusations against him.

According to the activist, Gurbanov noted that none of the other defendants were involved in financial and economic activities in the organizations mentioned in the case. Nevertheless, everyone has been charged with the same accusations.

"Akif Gurbanov further noted that at the stage of the preliminary investigation, it was claimed that the leaders of the organized group were three people. However, according to him, the state prosecution never defined who the leader, the 'executors,' and the 'accomplices' were in the case. Akif Gurbanov emphasized that he made decisions regarding both executive activities and the recruitment of employees and financing. At the same time, in the activities of these organizations, particularly IDI and Toplum TV (the accusations do not officially concern the activities of Resplatforma, – note from "Caucasian Knot"), there was no composition of a crime. On the contrary, these structures, according to Gurbanov, worked on exposing the corrupt crimes of officials," the activist reported.

Gurbanov also rejected the accusation of illegally importing foreign currency into Azerbaijan.

"For 28 months, the prosecution has not been able to present any evidence that, as claimed, we received 837,223 manats (about 500,000 dollars) in cash from abroad and then smuggled it into the country. But what donor organization nowadays gives anyone cash?" the activist quoted Gurbanov's words.

Another defendant, a member of IDI and co-founder of the "Third Republic" Platform Ruslan Izzetli, instead of his final word, read a letter he wrote to his young son.

"Ruslan Izzetli noted that he committed no crimes and his only guilt is that he fought for his son and his son's peers to live happily in a free country, and for this, he is ready for any punishment," the activist reported.

Next, Toplum TV employee Farid Ismailov made his final statement. He pointed out that his journalistic investigations were included in the criminal case materials, and his role in the so-called 'criminal group' was defined as that of an investigative journalist. And this, according to Ismailov, answers the question of the reasons for his arrest.

"I have been effectively held hostage for 18 months without any legal grounds. This shows that there is not even elementary justice in this country. The Central Bank reported the absence of any data on my foreign currency operations, the State Border Service and the State Customs Committee did not provide any information, video recordings, or documents confirming the smuggling accusation, and the State Committee for Property Issues confirmed that no property is registered in my name," the activist quoted Ismailov's words.

Toplum TV employee pointed out that the investigation did not specify whom he allegedly hired. "Where is the evidence? Did you dream this? I was not extending a weapon to my interlocutors, but a microphone. The fact that I am being demanded 13 years in prison for this shows that journalism in this country is considered a crime," the activist quoted Ismailov's words.

Other defendants will speak at the next court session.

Mushvig Jabbar's lawyer Nazim Musaev stated that his client also rejects the accusations.

"Mushvig Jabbar is a journalist and ended up in custody precisely because of his professional activities at Toplum TV. During the court investigation, not even the slightest evidence of his involvement in the crimes he was accused of was presented," Musaev told a correspondent from "Caucasian Knot".

Employee of the Baku Serious Crimes Court reported that the next court session for this case is scheduled for July 20.

Representatives of the prosecution were unavailable for comment.