{"id":30540,"date":"2025-11-11T14:24:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-11T13:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/free-anar.site\/?p=30540"},"modified":"2025-11-30T11:36:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T10:36:00","slug":"retaliatory-suspension-and-prosecution-of-lawyer-zabil-gahramanov","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/retaliatory-suspension-and-prosecution-of-lawyer-zabil-gahramanov\/","title":{"rendered":"CRISIS UPDATE: Retaliatory Suspension and Prosecution of Lawyer Zabil Gahramanov"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; background_color=&#8221;#f3dc95&#8243; transparent_background=&#8221;off&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_width_px=&#8221;1080px&#8221; custom_width_percent=&#8221;80%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;7px|0px|40px|0px||&#8221; make_fullwidth=&#8221;off&#8221; use_custom_width=&#8221;off&#8221; width_unit=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_width_px=&#8221;1080px&#8221; custom_width_percent=&#8221;80%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text content_tablet=&#8221;<h1 class=%22et_pb_module_heading%22><span class=%22EOP SCXW156106428 BCX0%22 data-ccp-props=%22{%22201341983%22:0,%22335551550%22:1,%22335551620%22:1,%22335559738%22:240,%22335559739%22:360,%22335559740%22:240,%22335572071%22:0,%22335572072%22:0,%22335572073%22:0,%22335572075%22:0,%22335572076%22:0,%22335572077%22:0,%22335572079%22:0,%22335572080%22:0,%22335572081%22:0,%22335572083%22:0,%22335572084%22:0,%22335572085%22:0,%22335572087%22:0,%22335572088%22:0,%22335572089%22:0,%22469789798%22:%22nil%22,%22469789802%22:%22nil%22,%22469789806%22:%22nil%22,%22469789810%22:%22nil%22,%22469789814%22:%22nil%22}%22>Human rights groups urge International Association of Judges to act on Azerbaijan <\/span><\/h1>\n<h6><b><span class=%22NormalTextRun SCXW71287579 BCX0%22><em>Baku\/Geneva, 29 September 2025<\/em> \u2013 A coalition of human rights groups has written to the International Association of Judges (IAJ) ahead of its annual meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, calling for a strong resolution on the country\u2019s lack of judicial independence and ongoing repression.<br \/><\/span><\/b><\/h6>&#8221; content_phone=&#8221;<h1 class=%22et_pb_module_heading%22><span class=%22EOP SCXW156106428 BCX0%22 data-ccp-props=%22{%22201341983%22:0,%22335551550%22:1,%22335551620%22:1,%22335559738%22:240,%22335559739%22:360,%22335559740%22:240,%22335572071%22:0,%22335572072%22:0,%22335572073%22:0,%22335572075%22:0,%22335572076%22:0,%22335572077%22:0,%22335572079%22:0,%22335572080%22:0,%22335572081%22:0,%22335572083%22:0,%22335572084%22:0,%22335572085%22:0,%22335572087%22:0,%22335572088%22:0,%22335572089%22:0,%22469789798%22:%22nil%22,%22469789802%22:%22nil%22,%22469789806%22:%22nil%22,%22469789810%22:%22nil%22,%22469789814%22:%22nil%22}%22>Human rights groups urge International Association of Judges to act on Azerbaijan <\/span><\/h1>\n<h6><b><span class=%22NormalTextRun SCXW71287579 BCX0%22><em>Baku\/Geneva, 29 September 2025<\/em> \u2013 A coalition of human rights groups has written to the International Association of Judges (IAJ) ahead of its annual meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, calling for a strong resolution on the country\u2019s lack of judicial independence and ongoing repression.<br \/><\/span><\/b><\/h6>&#8221; content_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; text_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font||||||||&#8221; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; text_orientation=&#8221;center&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; use_border_color=&#8221;off&#8221; border_style=&#8221;solid&#8221; inline_fonts=&#8221;Oswald&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<h1 class=\"et_pb_module_heading\"><span class=\"EOP SCXW156106428 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:360,&quot;335559740&quot;:240,&quot;335572071&quot;:0,&quot;335572072&quot;:0,&quot;335572073&quot;:0,&quot;335572075&quot;:0,&quot;335572076&quot;:0,&quot;335572077&quot;:0,&quot;335572079&quot;:0,&quot;335572080&quot;:0,&quot;335572081&quot;:0,&quot;335572083&quot;:0,&quot;335572084&quot;:0,&quot;335572085&quot;:0,&quot;335572087&quot;:0,&quot;335572088&quot;:0,&quot;335572089&quot;:0,&quot;469789798&quot;:&quot;nil&quot;,&quot;469789802&quot;:&quot;nil&quot;,&quot;469789806&quot;:&quot;nil&quot;,&quot;469789810&quot;:&quot;nil&quot;,&quot;469789814&quot;:&quot;nil&quot;}\">Retaliatory Suspension and Prosecution of Lawyer Zabil Gahramanov <\/span><\/h1>\n<h6><b><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW71287579 BCX0\">The Campaign to End Repression in Azerbaijan has published a new case analysis documenting the suspension and prosecution of defence lawyer Zabil Gahramanov. This further persecution of a human rights lawyer marks a new phase in the country\u2019s repression.<br \/><\/span><\/b><\/h6>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;]<p>Zabil Gahramanov, a veteran lawyer from Ganja known for defending victims of torture and politically motivated prosecutions, was suspended by the Bar Council of Azerbaijan in early October and detained two weeks later on fabricated charges of \u201cfraud\u201d and \u201chooliganism.\u201d His case demonstrates how the authorities are now extending the crackdown even stronger to the legal profession, albeit the persecution of human rights lawyers has always been part of the repression targeting human rights defenders, civil society, media and opposition in the country.<\/p>\n<p>The Campaign&#8217;s analysis traces the fusion of disciplinary and criminal mechanisms used to silence Gahramanov, linking his prosecution to earlier patterns of repression described in \u201cQuest for Justice in a Climate of Unprecedented Repression\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/free-anar.site\/report-2024\/\">September 2024<\/a>) and \u201cAzerbaijan\u2019s Defiance: A Decade of Contempt for the Council of Europe\u201d (<a href=\"https:\/\/free-anar.site\/azerbaijans-defiance-a-decade-of-contempt-for-the-council-of-europe\/\">December 2024<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>It shows how the Bar Council acts under executive control, the judiciary remains subservient to the Presidential Administration, and criminal proceedings are weaponised to punish criticism. The case reflects the structural collapse of the rule of law and a profound threat to access to justice.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Campaign urges the Council of Europe and its Committee of Ministers to treat the case as a test of credibility. Zabil Gahramanov\u2019s detention replicates patterns already condemned under Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Continued inaction would confirm that justice itself has become a punishable offence in Azerbaijan.<\/strong><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/free-anar.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/251104-Case-Analysis-1.pdf&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ FULL CASE ANALYSIS (PDF)&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#f3dc95&#8243; button_bg_color=&#8221;#d32329&#8243; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_radius=&#8221;11px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font||||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#xf101;||fa||900&#8243; custom_margin=&#8221;-15px|||||&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;6px|||||&#8221; animation_style=&#8221;slide&#8221; animation_direction=&#8221;bottom&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/free-anar.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Zabil-Gahramanov-scaled.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Freedom for Zabil Gahramanov. End Repression in Azerbaijan&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Zabil Gahramanov&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/free-anar.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Zabil-Gahramanov.pdf&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; border_width_all=&#8221;3px&#8221; border_color_all=&#8221;#000000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_cta title=&#8221;Stay in touch with our campaign&#8221; button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/free-anar.site\/newsletter\/&#8221; button_text=&#8221;Register to our newsletter&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font||||||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#4f8991&#8243; body_text_color=&#8221;#f3dc95&#8243; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#f3dc95&#8243; button_bg_color=&#8221;#d32329&#8243; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_radius=&#8221;11px&#8221; button_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font||||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#xf101;||fa||900&#8243; width=&#8221;66%&#8221; module_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; min_height=&#8221;100px&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset1&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; theme_builder_area=&#8221;post_content&#8221;][\/et_pb_cta][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Retaliatory Suspension and Prosecution of Lawyer Zabil Gahramanov The Campaign to End Repression in Azerbaijan has published a new case analysis documenting the suspension and prosecution of defence lawyer Zabil Gahramanov. This further persecution of a human rights lawyer marks a new phase in the country\u2019s repression.Zabil Gahramanov, a veteran lawyer from Ganja known for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-30540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-crisisupdate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30540"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30635,"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30540\/revisions\/30635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.endrepression-az.org\/az\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}