Zaur Asgarov is an Azerbaijani opposition activist and Chair of the AXCP/PFPA Qaradağ district branch, actively involved in party structures, rallies, and political organizing.

He was detained on 7 March 2025 and charged under Article 281.2 of the Criminal Code based on alleged anti-government audio messages shared in WhatsApp groups. Authorities interpreted these messages as calls for the violent seizure of power, although no concrete acts supporting such claims were identified.

On 5 June 2025, he was sentenced to 5 years and 6 months’ imprisonment, and the conviction was upheld on appeal on 28 July 2025. The case relied primarily on selected audio recordings, expert assessments, and prosecution-controlled materials, while defense arguments – that the statements reflected political dissatisfaction rather than genuine calls for violence – were dismissed without meaningful legal analysis.

Mr. Asgarov consistently denied advocating violence, stating that his aim was political change through elections. Witness testimony also indicated that no discussions about overthrowing the government had taken place in the relevant groups. Despite this, courts accepted the prosecution’s narrative without properly examining whether the legal threshold for Article 281.2 was met.

His case forms part of a broader pattern of repression against AXCP/PFPA members and opposition activists in Azerbaijan, where political speech and internal party communication are increasingly criminalized under serious state-security charges.

International and independent observers regard the charges as fabricated and politically motivated, aimed at neutralizing opposition organizers and deterring dissent.