A Russian court has sentenced Georgian national Giorgi Partsvania to 28 years in prison in absentia on multiple charges related to his fighting on the Ukrainian side against Russian and separatist forces, Russia’s Investigative Committee said on December 12.
Partsvania has been put on an international wanted list.
The court found Partsvania guilty of mercenary activity, illegally crossing Russia’s border, illegal acquisition, transportation, carrying, and storage of firearms and ammunition, illegal possession and transport of explosive devices, weapons smuggling, and committing a terrorist act as part of an organized group, the committee said.
According to the committee, the sentence includes nine years in prison, followed by the remainder of the term in a maximum-security penal colony, as well as a fine of 2 million Russian rubles.
Investigators claim that Partsvania received financial compensation for fighting on Ukraine’s side from 2014 to 2017 and again since February 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The committee further alleged that in August 2024, Partsvania, acting as part of an “organized group with other Ukrainian servicemen,” illegally crossed into Russia while carrying firearms, ammunition, and explosive devices. It claimed that in Russia’s Belgorod region, he took part in an attack on the village of Poroz in the Graivoron municipal district, where investigators claim he illegally entered homes and detained two civilians.
The 11th Vugar Hashimov Memorial, dedicated to the memory of the late Azerbaijani chess player and European champion Vugar Hashimov, has concluded in Khankandi, Azernews reports.
Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
Representatives of Sino-Foreign Economic Cooperation (Beijing) Science and Trade and its partner company Wuyan Jiangsu Biotechnology, which act as the investor and operator of Azerbaijan’s trade houses in China, have paid a visit to Azerbaijan.
A preparatory hearing was held at Baku’s Serious Crimes Court in the criminal case related to Meydan TV.
During the session, numerous motions were submitted concerning the conditions of detention for the accused, the holding of an open trial, changes to pre-trial detention, and other issues. The court rejected the majority of the motions.
On 6 December 2024, Meydan TV staff members Ramin Deko (Jabrayilzade), Aynur Ganbarova (Elgyunesh), Aysel Umudova, Aytaj Ahmedova (Tapdyg), Khayal Agaeva, and Natik Javadly were detained. They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior agreement), and the case against them became known as the “Meydan TV case.” Subsequently, journalists Shamshad Aga, Nurlan Libre, Fatima Movlamly, Ulviya Ali, and Ahmed Mukhtar were also arrested in connection with the case.
In August this year, the charges against the journalists were intensified, with new articles added to the case.
Meydan TV says the arrests are linked to its critical reporting.
Those detained in connection with the “Meydan TV case”: Bottom row: Ulviya Ali, Khayala Agaeva, Fatima Movlamly, Aynur Elgyunesh, Aytaj Tagdyg, Aysel Umudova. Top row: Ramin Deko, Ahmed Mukhtar, Ulvi Tahirli, Nurlan Libre, Shamshad Aga, Natik Javadly.
At the start of the trial, the lawyers raised objections after staff from the Penitentiary Service closed off the front of the glass enclosure holding the defendants. The defence argued that this blocked transparency in the proceedings.
The judge instructed the Penitentiary Service officers to step back from the front of the enclosure, leaving only a small number of guards. After this, those in the courtroom were able to see the defendants clearly.
The hearing continued with a review of the defendants’ personal details.
Journalist Aytaj Tapdyg said she had worked at Meydan TV for over ten years and had produced numerous video reports. Addressing the judge, she asked that these facts be taken into account when reaching a decision.
“This is how we will punish you for everything you have done,” Tapdyg declared.
Journalist Natik Javadly began his statement by saying, “First of all, I want to greet the distinguished Azerbaijani intellectual Jamil Hasanly present in this courtroom.” His words were met with applause. He then reminded the court of his name and surname, as well as an award he received in 2009, and said he was proud of his work at Meydan TV.
Journalist Aysel Umudova, responding to a question about her current place of residence, stated:
“I have been held in Baku pre-trial detention for a year.”
Rejection of state-appointed lawyers
After their personal details were reviewed, the defendants were asked whether they wished to reject state-appointed lawyers. All 12 defendants in the case said they had chosen their own legal representatives and declined the services of state-appointed attorneys.
The defence lawyers submitted a series of motions. Lawyer Zibeida Sadygova requested that the defendants be taken out of the glass enclosure and seated next to their lawyers. The judge noted that this might be allowed in future hearings.
“Furthermore, many trials are being conducted in the country where filming is allowed. Considering that the defendants are media professionals and public figures, that the trial is of public interest, and taking into account other proceedings where filming is permitted, I request that journalists be admitted to the courtroom and that filming be allowed,” Sadygova’s motion states.
Lawyer Ulviya Ali supported the motion, saying his client loves her country and does not want its image to be harmed, and therefore favours courtroom filming and its dissemination.
The state prosecutor responded that no journalist had formally requested filming in court so far. At this point, Nurlan Libre interrupted, asking:
“Which journalists are still free? You have imprisoned them all.”
Motions were also submitted to terminate the criminal case on rehabilitative grounds, to release the defendants, or to change the measure of restraint to house arrest. None of these requests were granted.
Aynur Elgyunesh, speaking in support of a motion, presented a “six-month observation” document issued following a court request from the State Security Service concerning her.
“I was arrested shortly before the end of this six-month period, and this document is proof that my arrest is political in nature,” Elgyunesh said.
She requested that the document be added to the case file and submitted it to the court.
Elgyunesh also noted in her statement that her social card had been blocked.
“What does smuggling have to do with a government benefit? I demand that my card be unblocked.”
Lawyer Elchin Sadigov, representing Aynur Elgyunesh and Natik Javadly, told the court that while the defence lawyers had reviewed the final indictment, they had not been given a copy of the document. In addition, the lawyers were allowed extremely limited time to examine the case, and they had not been able to review 30 discs and several flash drives included in the case materials.
In response, Sadigov filed a motion requesting that the case not be accepted for trial, that the preparatory hearing be postponed, and that the defence be given sufficient time and conditions to review the case materials that had previously not been provided.
This motion, like the previous ones, was also rejected.
The court granted some of the motions. A request to lift the ban on Aytaj Tapdyg meeting her fiancé and getting married was approved.
It was also decided to transfer Natik Javadly, Ramin Deko, and Ulvi Tahirov from pre-trial detention facility No. 3 in Shuvelyan to Baku pre-trial detention facility No. 1.
Continuation of trial
The court ultimately accepted the criminal case for trial. The next hearing is scheduled for 22 December.
