Farid Safarli, arrested in Iran, has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizade told Report.

As noted in the statements by the Foreign Ministry dated March 9, June 2 and August 2, from the moment information about Farid Safarli was received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Ministry and Azerbaijan’s Consulate General in Tabriz worked to clarify the fate and state of health of the citizen and clarify the issue on the part of Iran, protection of his judicial procedural rights, as well as providing him with a lawyer.

During the court hearing on July 19, 2023, the charge of “espionage” brought against Farid Safarli was replaced by the charge of “intent to spy.” At the next stage, the court sentenced him to detention for a period of two and a half years.

The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan continues to take the necessary measures to protect the rights and interests of Farid Safarli.