No:011/24, Response of the Head of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Aykhan Hajizada, to a question from local media regarding Farid Safarli, a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan detained in Iran
16 January 2024 18:00
Question: Following the detention of Farid Gabil oghlu Safarli, a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan, in Iran on 4 March and the issuance of a court decision regarding him, the parent of F. Safarli expressed concern about his son’s condition and addressed an appeal to the state bodies of Azerbaijan for assistance on the matter. What is the comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this issue?
Answer: As noted in the press statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated 9 March, 2 June and 2 August 2023, from the day the information on Farid Safarli was received by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, relevant work has been carried out at all stages both by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by the Consulate General of our country in the city of Tabriz in order to clarify the fate and health condition of the citizen, to obtain clarification from Iran on the matter, to ensure the protection of the citizen’s judicial-procedural rights, as well as to provide him with a lawyer.
During the court hearing held on 19 July 2023, the charge of “espionage” brought against F. Safarli was replaced with the charge of “intention to commit espionage”. At the next stage, by the decision of the court, a sentence of imprisonment for a period of 2 years was applied to him.
At the same time, the representatives of the Consulate General of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the city of Tabriz of the Islamic Republic of Iran regularly hold meetings with F. Safarli in the prison and facilitate telephone contact between him and his family members.
The necessary measures by the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan to protect the rights and interests of Farid Safarli are being continued.