The court in Baku refused to dismiss the case against Taleh Bagirzade's sons.

The defense of the two minor sons of the leader of "Muslim Unity" Taleh Bagirzade, accused of beating a schoolgirl, insists on the absence of a crime, but the court rejected the lawyers' petition to dismiss the case. The mother of the teenagers claims that their prosecution has political motives.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the preliminary investigation into the criminal case of the 15-year-old and 17-year-old sons of the leader of the "Muslim Unity" movement Taleh Bagirzade was completed in July. The elder was charged under Article 127.2.3 1 and 221.2.1 2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, while the younger was charged under Article 221.2.1. They face up to five and three years of imprisonment, respectively. In September, the case was submitted to the court.

On September 17, a preparatory hearing in the case of the two minor sons of Taleh Bagirzade – the leader of the "Muslim Unity" movement, who is serving a prison sentence, concluded at the Khazar District Court in Baku.

At the beginning of the hearing, the children’s lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, petitioned to dismiss the case on acquittal grounds, as reported by Elinara Yahya, a religious activist observing the process.

According to the defense, the actions of the teenagers do not constitute a crime. Furthermore, the lawyer pointed out that the court proceedings would negatively affect the students' educational process.

“The lawyer also noted that the opposing side was repeatedly offered reconciliation, but to no avail. On the other hand, Taleh Bagirzade's children were drawn into a provocation and they also suffered physical violence,” Yahya reported.

The prosecutor opposed the petition, and Judge Vugar Magerramov did not grant the defense's request. Mother Leila Ismailzade, acting in court as the legal representative of the accused, stated that the criminal case is a political order and the teenagers are being prosecuted due to their father's criticism of the Azerbaijani government's policies.

The woman herself told a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" that the incident that led to the criminal case was “pre-planned.” The recognized victim, a teenage girl, was not a student at the school where her children are educated.

“Several months before this incident, my older minor son was banned from leaving the country, which was completely unjustified and without reason. This was already a sign that something bad was being prepared against my children. We still have not received explanations regarding the grounds for restricting my son's rights. The fact that the court rejected our lawyer's petitions was quite expected, as the court is fulfilling a political order. If the case were investigated objectively, the investigation should have assessed the fact of harm to my children's health,” Ismailzade said.

Lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova insists on the groundlessness of the criminal prosecution of Bagirzade's sons.

“This case should have been dismissed on acquittal grounds, without bringing it to judicial investigation, as the teenagers did not commit criminal acts. Such incidents in schools often occur, and usually, they do not even reach the police. These children need to study, not go to court,” the lawyer told a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot".

During the investigation and court proceedings, the teenagers remain free, under the signature of their legal representative not to leave.

An employee of the Khazar District Court informed a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot" that the next hearing will take place on September 29, when the date for the substantive hearings will also be set. Representatives of the prosecution and the victim's side were unavailable for comment.

In January 2017, Taleh Bagirzade and 17 of his supporters were sentenced to terms ranging from 10 to 20 years on charges of organizing riots following a law enforcement operation that resulted in the deaths of seven people in November 2015, according to a report by the "Caucasian Knot" "Nardaran". The defendants complained of torture and did not admit guilt. Azerbaijani human rights activists consider the defendants in the "Nardaran case" to be political prisoners.

In February 2025, the ECHR recognized as unlawful the pre-trial detention of Taleh Bagirzade and his supporters Zulfuqar Mikailov and Elman Agazade.