Azerbaijan’s highest court has denied an appeal from a veteran opposition figure currently serving a lengthy prison term, according to his legal representative.
The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down the appeal filed by Tofig Yagublu, a 65-year-old member of the Musavat opposition party who is serving nine years behind bars, his attorney confirmed to Reuters.
Over the past three decades, Yagublu has faced multiple imprisonments for demonstrating against the government in the South Caucasus nation. Authorities took him into custody in December 2023, and he received his conviction in March of last year on charges including fraud and falsifying documents.
While his backers argue the prosecution is driven by political motives, government officials insist the conviction was justified based on legitimate criminal conduct.
Defense attorney Nemat Karimli stated that significant procedural errors plagued the initial proceedings, and the legal team intends to take their case to the European Court of Human Rights.
The oil-rich nation has faced mounting Western criticism regarding its treatment of human rights, particularly following a wave of detentions targeting independent media professionals and political dissidents in recent years.
Azerbaijan’s leadership dismisses such criticism and characterizes Western diplomatic calls for prisoner releases as improper meddling in the country’s justice system.
