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Court sentences nine defendants in Toplum TV case to up to 15 years in prison

27 July 2026 17:31 (UTC +04:00)

The final hearing has been held in the criminal case against Akif Gurbanov, Alasgar Mammadli, Ruslan Izzatli, Ramil Babayev, Ali Zeynalov, Mushfig Jabbarov, Ilkin Amrahov, Farid Ismayilov, and Elmir Abbasov, who were charged in the Toplum TV case, APA reports.

The defendants delivered their final statements today during a hearing at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Azar Taghiyev.

The court then announced its verdict.

Under the ruling, Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli were each sentenced to 15 years in prison; Alasgar Mammadli and Ali Zeynalov to 14 years each; Ramil Babayev, Mushfig Jabbarov, and Ilkin Amrahov to 13 years each; and Farid Ismayilov and Elmir Abbasov to 12 years each. Elmir Abbasov was taken into custody in the courtroom.

The state prosecutor had requested that the defendants also be barred from holding positions in state and local self-government bodies for three years, while seeking prison sentences of 16 years for Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli, 15 years for Alasgar Mammadli and Ali Zeynalov, 14 years for Ramil Babayev, Mushfig Jabbarov, and Ilkin Amrahov, and 13 years for Farid Ismayilov and Elmir Abbasov.

The prosecutor also requested the confiscation of the defendants' seized vehicles and houses in order to satisfy the civil claim.

Note that on March 6, 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted an operation at the office of Toplum TV, an online television outlet, as well as several other locations.

Following the operation, Toplum TV co-founders Akif Gurbanov and Alasgar Ahmadoglu (Mammadli), several staff members, and Ruslan Izzatli, a founding member of the Third Republic Platform, were placed in pre-trial detention.

They were initially charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in prior collusion).

Subsequently, additional charges were brought against the defendants under Articles 162-1.1, 192.3.2, 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2, 206.4, and 213.2.1 of the Criminal Code.

Seljan Zaurgizi

Toplum TV Azerbaijan Baku Court on Grave Crimes court verdict prison sentence Akif Gurbanov Ruslan Izzatli Alasgar Mammadli Ali Zeynalov Ramil Babayev Mushfig Jabbarov Ilkin Amrahov Farid Ismayilov Elmir Abbasov Azar Taghiyev criminal case Toplum TV trial Ministry of Internal Affairs smuggling Azerbaijan Criminal Code