The Baku Grave Crimes Court held another hearing in the ongoing “NGO case,” this time involving Hafiz Hasanov, head of the public association Law and Development.
According to Oxu.Az, the session was presided over by Judge Eldar Ismayilov. During the hearing, the prosecutor read out the indictment against Hasanov.
The charges allege that Hasanov laundered more than 415,000 manats received as grants from the German Marshall Fund, disguising the funds as expenses for various NGO projects under his management. Hasanov pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The next court session is scheduled for December 3.
Hasanov is charged under Articles 193-1.3.2 (large-scale money laundering), 308.2 (abuse of official authority with serious consequences), and 313 (forgery in office) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code. Earlier, the Binagadi District Court placed him under house arrest as a preventive measure.
The broader investigation, conducted by the Investigation Department of the General Prosecutor’s Office, targets several non-governmental organizations operating in Azerbaijan. The case involves suspected violations under Articles 192.2.2 (illegal entrepreneurship generating large income), 213.1 (tax evasion and failure to pay mandatory insurance contributions), and 308.2, among others.
Authorities say the probe examines possible breaches of national law by both domestic NGO leaders and the local branches of foreign organizations.
