Baku court hears disputed figures in ‘Mirvari’ case

A Baku court continued hearings in the criminal case against former Boulevard Authority chief Ilgar Mustafayev, his aide Rashad Badalov, and GİRASOL LLC director Fuad Babayev.

During the session, chaired by Judge Leyla Askerova-Mammadova, the court accepted a defense motion to include documents showing that GİRASOL served numerous clients beyond the Boulevard Authority.

Mustafayev’s lawyer, Ismayil Kengerli, challenged allegations that the sightseeing boats “Mirvari” and “Shafag” carried tens of thousands of passengers between 2020 and 2022, including 13,000 in 2020 alone — a period marked by strict COVID lockdowns and movement restrictions. He cited official records indicating the boats were decommissioned in 2022 due to low water levels.

The court ordered the complainant’s side to submit relevant official data, while deferring a decision on additional document requests.

Mustafayev declared his innocence, stating he served Baku’s iconic boulevard with dedication and hoped for a fair ruling. The next hearing is scheduled for August 18.

N.Tebrizli