BAKU — September 1, 2025. The trial has opened in the Baku Court on Grave Crimes against Ramil Mammadov, who stands accused of killing his wife with a baseball bat while she was performing namaz (Islamic prayer).
Presiding judge Leyla Askerova-Mammadova heard prosecutors read out the indictment on Monday. Mammadov admitted partial guilt to the charges.
Details of the crime
According to the case file, the attack occurred on February 8 in the Bina settlement near Baku. Lamiyə Mammadova, aged 47, was struck with a blunt object during prayer and died at the scene. After the killing, the defendant fled abroad.
Investigators from the Khazar District Prosecutor’s Office charged Mammadov under Article 120.1 (premeditated murder) of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code. He was placed on an international wanted list.
Extradition from Georgia
Mammadov was later arrested in Georgia. Following a request by Azerbaijan’s General Prosecutor’s Office, Georgian authorities approved his extradition under the 1993 CIS Convention on Legal Assistance in Civil, Family and Criminal Matters. In March this year he was escorted back to Baku by a special unit of the Penitentiary Service.
Broader concerns
The killing, committed during an act of worship, has shocked Azerbaijani society and reignited debate about domestic violence and women’s safety in the country. Rights advocates stress that cases like this highlight the urgent need for stronger prevention measures, better support for women at risk, and cross-border cooperation in prosecuting violent crimes.
The trial continues.
