Fazil Gasimov

Fazil Gasimov is an economist who was completing his PhD in Turkey in August 2023 when he was arrested by local authorities and extradited to Azerbaijan.

At the time, his arrest was linked to an ongoing investigation against fellow economist Gubad Ibadoghlu.

Under the police custody, Gasimov described to be subjected to torture to force him to sign a false confession against Ibadoghlu. He said that employees of the Main Organized Crime Department put his head in the toilet, electroshocked him, forced him to drink liquid spiked with psychotropic medication, and threatened to rape his mother unless he gave incriminating testimony against Ibadoghlu.

In order to protest his mistreatment and imprisonment, Gasimov began a hunger strike in June 2024 which ultimately lasted more than 3 months.

In April 2024, Gasimov’s case was separated from that of Ibadoghlu. In September 2024, the court rejected Gasimov’s motion to transfer him to house arrest.

The court convicted Gasimov and sentenced him to nine years in prison in March 2025.