Baku: The trial of Arastun Orujlu, accused of making calls against the state, has begun, APA reports. At today’s in absentia hearing held at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Babek Panahov, the personal details were clarified. The criminal case has been sent for judicial review, and the court hearing has been set for January 14.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, a decision was adopted to charge Arastun Orujlu as an accused under Article 281.2 of the Criminal Code, which covers public calls directed against the state, committed repeatedly or by a group of persons. After evading investigation and hiding outside Azerbaijan, Orujlu was placed on the wanted list to formally announce the charges against him. A preventive measure of arrest in absentia was imposed on him by a decision of the Binagadi District Court on February 23, 2025.
On September 18, additional charges were made against Orujlu under Articles 220.2 and 281.2 of the Criminal Code, with changes made to the content of the charge. It was noted that on January 4, 2023, on ‘Arastun Orujlu’s Channel’ on YouTube, and on October 24, 2024, on ‘Azerfreedom TV’, he, along with others, made and disseminated open calls encouraging the use of force against the government, which operates on legal grounds in Azerbaijan.