Azerbaijan prosecutors to challenge release of former military medical commission chief

The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan will lodge an appellate protest against a ruling by the Baku Military Court that released Rasim Hasanov, former head of the Defense Ministry's Central Military Medical Commission, from custody with only a fine, the agency's press service announced.

Hasanov had been indicted by the Anti-Corruption Department on charges of repeat bribery in major amounts, official forgery, and abuse of authority (Articles 311.3.2, 311.3.3, 313, and 341.2.3 of the Criminal Code) in connection with fraudulent medical discharges of servicemen between 2021 and 2025. Despite prosecutors demanding a 10-year prison sentence, the court reclassified the charges to fraud, imposed a monetary penalty, and ordered Hasanov's immediate release in the courtroom. Prosecutors confirmed that a formal appeal will be filed upon receipt of the official verdict.