A Kharkiv court has delayed reviewing an appeal against the extradition arrest of Azerbaijani opposition figure Bahruz Gasanli, with no new hearing date set. Lawyer Oleh Maksymenko said the delay happened because the judges who previously ordered Gasanli’s extradition arrest were included in the judicial panel twice. Ukrainian law enforcement detained Gasanli on Jul. 27 based on an Interpol Red Notice request. Azerbaijani law enforcement is searching for him over an alleged fraud case. First, the court placed him under nighttime house arrest. Later, it ordered he be detained in prison for 40 days. On Aug. 20, the Kharkiv Novobavarskyi district court granted a prosecutor’s request to place Gasanli under extradition arrest for 12 months. Human rights organizations monitoring the case believe he is being persecuted by Baku for political activities and that return to Azerbaijan could threaten his freedom, safety, and fundamental human rights. Gasanli’s defence filed an appeal. Maksymenko said judge Hiertsyk, who issued the arrest order, was part of the panel for the first appeal hearing, prompting a motion to recuse. The case was reassigned to a new panel that included judges Kruzhylina and Liushnia, who had also previously issued the arrest warrant. Maksymenko said they did not recuse themselves, so he resubmitted the motion. Maksymenko added that he plans to file a complaint with the High Council of Justice, arguing the delay in hearing the appeal and the reassignments should be investigated. He also challenged the pretrial measure, saying the 12-month extradition arrest bars bail and that violations occurred during the extradition hearing, including issues with prosecution documentation and verification of the prosecutor’s authority. The lawyer said Gasanli has sleep problems and is depressed because of detention. His family has been affected too, including his child and his wife, who cannot go to the shelter during an air raid alert due to leg problems after surgeries. Gasanli previously volunteered as a security aide to Ali Karimli, head of the APFP. Karimli is currently facing trial in Baku, charged with attempted coup on Jun. 10, 2025. If convicted, Karimli could face 12 to 20 years in prison. Gasanli remains under an extradition arrest order while his appeal review is pending, and the next court date has not yet been scheduled.