Trial begins in Jõhvi over bribery case against Kohtla-Järve council member Zaur Abbasov
A court trial opened Tuesday in Jõhvi against Kohtla-Järve city council member Zaur Abbasov, accused of accepting a bribe from a businessman who died in 2024.
On Tuesday, September 1, the Jõhvi courthouse of Viru County Court began judicial proceedings in the criminal case against Zaur Abbasov, a member of the Kohtla-Järve city council. He is accused of accepting a bribe from businessman Nikolai Osipenko, who died in 2024. The court confirmed to Rus.ERR that the case will be heard under general proceedings.
Details of the charge
According to the indictment, in 2022 Abbasov reached an agreement with Osipenko under which he would receive a seat on the council of Ida-Viru Central Hospital. Prosecutors say Osipenko also allegedly promised to help resolve a property matter concerning real estate belonging to Abbasov's parents.
In exchange, as a city council member, Abbasov was expected to vote according to Osipenko's instructions, the prosecution claims. Prosecutors state that both parties understood the terms of the arrangement and acted intentionally.
According to the charges, Abbasov accepted at least the offered hospital council seat as a bribe, becoming a member of the Ida-Viru Central Hospital council on July 15, 2022.
Abbasov has been charged under section 294, part 1 of the Estonian Penal Code — an official's agreement to accept a promised benefit and acceptance of a bribe.
Zaur Abbasov remains a sitting member of the Kohtla-Järve city council. Shortly before the trial began, he joined a cooperation agreement signed by 15 elected council members.
