The suspended sentence for 88-year-old Ramiz Mehdiyev has drawn criticism in Azerbaijan.

Representatives of civil society in Azerbaijan criticized the court's decision to impose a suspended sentence on former presidential administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev for treason. They pointed to the lack of transparency in the judicial process and the disproportionate nature of the punishment relative to the severity of the charges.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced former head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev to 14 years in prison, but imposed a suspended sentence considering his age and health condition. Mehdiyev is accused of treason, attempting to seize power with the assistance of foreign intelligence services, violently changing the constitutional order, and laundering criminal proceeds exceeding 17 million manats (10 million dollars). He remains under house arrest and will not be sent to a penal colony. According to the verdict, the property of the former official is subject to special confiscation in favor of the state.

The founder of the "Open Azerbaijan" platform, economist Zohreb Ismail, called the trial of Mehdiyev a parody of justice. "The trial of Ramiz Mehdiyev has become a farce, a parody of justice. It was not a transparent judicial proceeding; even pro-government journalists were not allowed into the process. Information about the verdict became public only after several days. Mehdiyev himself participated in the process online, under the pretext of health problems. But he could have been transported to court in a wheelchair," Ismail told a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

According to the serious charges against Mehdiyev, he should have received 15–20 years in prison in a strict regime colony, Ismail continued. "However, the former influential high-ranking official, known as the 'gray cardinal', was given a suspended sentence of 14 years. It turns out that the humane courts of Azerbaijan sometimes take into account illnesses and other mitigating circumstances." This is the tragedy of the situation; in cases involving journalists, activists, and human rights defenders, courts ignore the health status of the accused and the lack of credible evidence against them. If justice is humane towards Mehdiyev, then the same approach should have been applied to activist Famil Khalilov, a disabled person who could not walk without assistance. Nevertheless, he was kept in custody for many months," the activist noted.

Political scientist, wife of imprisoned political scientist Azer Gasymly Samira Gasymly pointed out the rapidity of the trial. "The trial of Ramiz Mehdiyev, accused of such serious charges as treason and attempted violent seizure of state power, lasted only a month. The process, which was announced to have started on September 21, concluded on October 22. After finding Mehdiyev guilty of such serious crimes, he was left free," Samira Gasymly told a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

She noted that the judicial investigation against her husband Azer Gasymly lasted nine months, and despite the lack of credible evidence, the court issued a harsh sentence of 12 years in prison.

Samira Gasymly also pointed to "different approaches of the courts to different defendants." "Regardless of youth or age, the most prominent figures in Azerbaijani society are demonstratively kept in custody on fabricated criminal cases. Despite the serious illnesses of journalist Aynur Elgunesh, media expert Alesker Mamedli, and politician Ruslan Izzetli, they are denied even a change in the measure of restraint so that people can receive quality medical care. If in the case of Mehdiyev, age and illness are considered, then why is politician Tofiq Yagublu, who is already elderly and has serious health problems, languishing in custody?" noted S. Gasymly.

The head of the Caspian Center for Research and Analysis, political scientist Elman Fattah also criticized the court's decision. "The public has simply been deceived," Fattah told a correspondent of the "Caucasian Knot."

He called the court's reference to Article 70 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, which allows for the imposition of a suspended sentence, untenable. "According to this article, a suspended sentence can be applied considering the nature of the crime, the degree of its public danger, and the personality of the convicted. In this case, however, the court, while recognizing Ramiz Mehdiyev guilty of serious crimes against the state, simultaneously concludes that he does not pose a danger to society. It turns out that an attempted coup and treason do not create any public danger," Fattah noted.

The head of the press service of the PFPA Natig Adilov also pointed to the lack of transparency in the trial against Mehdiyev. "Representatives of the public, representatives of the free and even unfree press were not allowed into the court. The public has no information about how and with whom Mehdiyev attempted to seize power. At the beginning, pro-government media loudly spread the version of Mehdiyev's alleged plans to carry out a coup with the participation of the opposition. Now it becomes clear that this whole game was devised to arrest the leader of the PFPA Ali Kerimli. It is obvious that Kerimli had no connection with Mehdiyev, and even gathering false evidence for this was not possible, so their cases were separated. Meanwhile, Mehdiyev remained free all this time and received a suspended sentence. Ali Kerimli and another leading figure of the PFPA Mamed Ibrahim remain in custody and await trial," Adilov said.

It should be noted that on November 29, 2025, employees of the State Security Service detained the leader of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party Ali Kerimli and his advisor, member of the PFPA presidium Mamed Ibrahim in connection with the case against Mehdiyev. Since then, the opposition members have remained in custody.

The State Security Service of Azerbaijan announced on February 12 the disclosure of a conspiracy against the government involving former presidential administration head Ramiz Mehdiyev and PFPA leader Ali Kerimli. According to the SSS, Mehdiyev, Kerimli, PFPA member Mamed Ibrahim, and other individuals acted in collusion with the aim of violently seizing power and changing the constitutional order. Mehdiyev's assistant, Eldar Amirov, allegedly participated in the transfer of documents and contacts with foreign entities. The investigation also claims financing and coordination through Azerbaijani diaspora organizations abroad to destabilize the situation in the country, including during the 2013 elections.