Brother of economist Gubad Ibadoghlu pleads not guilty in NGO case

A Baku court on grave crimes held a hearing in the case of Galib (Togrul) Bayramov, chairman of the Center for Economic Research and brother of Azerbaijani economist Gubad Ibadoghlu, one of the defendants in the so-called “NGO case.”

The trial was presided over by Judge Eldar Ismayilov, and the prosecutor read out the indictment. Bayramov was charged under Articles 193-1.3.2 (large-scale money laundering) and 308 (abuse of official powers) of the Criminal Code.

Bayramov pleaded not guilty to the charges. The next hearing is scheduled for November 5.

During the investigation, police supervision was imposed as a preventive measure.

The case is part of a broader probe launched by the Prosecutor General’s Office into the activities of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their affiliates in Azerbaijan.

Other defendants in the case face charges including large-scale and repeated money laundering, abuse of office, and forgery, offenses that carry penalties of up to 12 years in prison.

N.Tebrizli