Fazil Gasimov, a PhD student at Istanbul University and an economist, who was detained in Turkey and extradited to Azerbaijan, has demanded the presence of Gubad Ibadoglu in court.

Gasimov was charged under the same criminal case as economist Gubad Ibadoglu, ten days after Ibadoglu's arrest. While the charges against Ibadoglu were dropped after his release, Gasimov continues to stand trial under the same case.

According to "Radio Liberty," during the latest court hearing, Fazil Gasimov insisted that Gubad Ibadoglu be present to answer questions. He justified his request by pointing out that he is being accused of acting in collusion with Ibadoglu. According to the charges, Fazil Gasimov allegedly handed over $21,000 in counterfeit currency to Gubad Ibadoglu in Turkey, who then brought the money to Azerbaijan.

Fazil Gasimov’s lawyer, Fuad Agayev, has stated that no decision can be made in this case without questioning Gubad Ibadoglu. The lawyer emphasized that the charges against his client were separated from the criminal case against Ibadoglu without any legal basis.

“In court, there is no one left who hasn’t mentioned Gubad Ibadoglu—whether it’s the defendants or the witnesses. If you refuse to summon and question him, you can hold as many hearings as you want, but what’s the point?” the lawyer said at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.

The prosecutor stated that there was no need to summon and question Gubad Ibadoglu. The judges also rejected the motion.

The lawyer also filed motions requesting the interrogation of the investigator and the inquiry officer who conducted the initial investigation into Fazil Gasimov’s case at the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime. Additionally, he sought an investigation into who accompanied his client when he was detained and brought from Turkey to Azerbaijan. These motions were left unconsidered.

Alongside Fazil Gasimov, a man named Anar Aliyev is also on trial. In a previous court hearing, Aliyev claimed that the counterfeit currency found on him and in his home had been given to him by Gubad Ibadoglu. He had also testified against the economist during the investigation. However, Ibadoglu denied any connection with Aliyev, stating that authorities were using him to frame him.

Fazil Gasimov had been residing in Turkey for some time before his arrest. He was detained in Istanbul on August 8, 2023, and subsequently extradited to Azerbaijan.

Lawyers have stated that Fazil Gasimov was detained as part of the investigation into the criminal case against Gubad Ibadoglu and is charged under Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code (production, acquisition, or sale of counterfeit money or foreign currency for the purpose of distribution—when committed by an organized group).

During his court testimony, Fazil Gasimov claimed that he was forced to sign a false statement against Gubad Ibadoglu due to coercion and the influence of special drugs during the investigation.

He later retracted his statement and asserted that his arrest was politically motivated.

"The Azerbaijan Youth Education Fund (AYEF) was registered by the Charity Commission of the United Kingdom, and just 23 days later, Gubad Ibadoglu was arrested. Thirty-nine days after that, I was arrested," Gasimov said.

Currently, Fazil Gasimov's case has been separated from Gubad Ibadoglu’s and is being handled independently. The trial of Fazil Gasimov is ongoing at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes under the chairmanship of Judge Mahira Karimova.