Azerbaijani developer Isfandiyar Akhundov acquitted in high-profile defamation trial

 A Baku district court on Friday acquitted Isfandiyar Akhundov, a prominent construction magnate known as "Sharurlu Isfandiyar," of criminal defamation and insult charges.

The Binagadi District Court, presided over by Judge Vusal Taghiyev, ruled that Akhundov’s actions did not constitute a crime. The case was initiated as a private prosecution by Emil Samandarov, head of the "Proqress 2016" construction cooperative. Samandarov, who is currently in custody on large-scale fraud charges, filed the lawsuit after Akhundov publicly referred to him as a "fraudster" in a media interview.

The court's decision concludes a months-long legal battle during which Samandarov's defense sought criminal penalties, including imprisonment, under Articles 147.2 and 148 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.