HRANA – Azerbaijani-Turk activist Yousef Kari has been sentenced by Branch 104 of Ardabil Criminal Court to pay fines, some of which are in lieu of imprisonment and flogging. Another defendant in the case, Touhid Amir Amini, was sentenced to a prison term and a monetary fine.

The verdict, issued on Sunday, August 3, 2025, finds Kari guilty of “disturbing public order and peace” and sentences him to a 30 million toman fine in lieu of imprisonment and a 12 million toman fine in lieu of flogging. He was also fined an additional 20.2 million tomans for “disobeying officers.”

Touhid Amir Amini was tried in absentia and convicted of “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.” He received a sentence of three months and one day in prison, along with a 30 million toman fine.

Amir Amini was arrested in late June 2025 and transferred to Ardabil Prison. He was released on bail on June 28.

In May 2025, Kari was arrested during public celebrations following a football club’s championship victory. He was released the following day from the Public Security and Intelligence Police detention facility in Ardabil.

The indictment against both activists was issued in March 2025 by Branch 10 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Ardabil.

Kari and Amir Amini have both previously faced judicial harassment, including arrests and imprisonment, in connection with their activism.