On July 22, 2024, Igbal Abilov, a citizen of Azerbaijan, was detained in the village of Bala Kolatan by officers of the State Security Service. According to Abilov's relatives, he arrived in Azerbaijan on June 14 to attend his cousin's wedding. On June 22, State Security officers who arrived in Bala Kolatan took Abilov to the Masally district State Security Department, where he was interrogated for 6 hours. On June 27, when he tried to fly from Baku to Bucharest (on his way to Belarus), he was not allowed to board the plane, and his passport and 2 phones were taken. On July 22, Abilov was again summoned to the Masally district State Security Department under the pretext of returning his passport and phones. However, without notifying his relatives, Abilov was taken to Baku.
After contacting the Ombudsman, his parents were informed that Abilov is suspected under articles 274 (high treason), 281.3 (public calls directed against the state, committed on the instructions of foreign organizations or their representatives), and 283.1 (incitement of national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
According to Abilov's relatives, he was detained on fabricated charges, and the real reason for his persecution is his research on various national minorities, including the Talysh of Azerbaijan.
On July 24, 2024, by court decision (decision number 4(009)-388/2024) in Baku, Igbal was placed under four-month arrest during the investigation without the possibility of seeing his relatives. It is also prohibited to share any documents associated with the case, even with relatives.
On July 31, 2024 an appeal of the decision number 4(009)-388/2024 was declined.
On August 7, 2024 a request to lift the ban on meetings and phone calls with family was denied.
On August 20, 2024 an appeal of the previous decision was denied.
On August 31, 2024 a request to transfer Igbal to house arrest was denied.
On February 26, 2025, the first court hearing in the case of Igbal Abilov took place.
The session was held in a closed format, with the judges participating online.
Subsequent hearings were held on March 7, May 2, and May 12, 2025. During these sessions, Igbal once again rejected all charges brought against him, firmly maintaining his innocence. The prosecution, in turn, requested 19 years of imprisonment.
On May 20, 2025, the court delivered its final verdict — 18 years of imprisonment.
Igbal Abilov was unjustly found guilty on all three charges originally brought against him under the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
- Article 274 — High treason
- Article 281.3 — Public calls against the state committed on behalf of foreign organizations or their representatives
- Article 283.1 — Incitement of national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity
26/05/2025, Umbaki Detention Center – Igbal transferred to Umbaki Detention Center.
17/07/2025, Shirvan Court of Appeal – Preliminary review hearing held without Igbal or his
lawyers. The session was held online, and lawyers were not allowed to participate.
01/08/2025, Shirvan Court of Appeal – Appeal hearing postponed without prior notice.
Supporters learned of the postponement only upon arrival; lawyers were later confirmed by the
court secretary. Reason: prosecutor on vacation.
25/09/2025, Shirvan Court of Appeal – Hearing was announced as open but unexpectedly held
online due to lack of transport to bring Igbal to court. Insufficient time was available to consider
all motions; an additional hearing was scheduled.
02/10/2025, Shirvan Court of Appeal – Igbal was personally present for the first time since
November 2024. The hearing was closed to the public; he remained in handcuffs throughout.
Session ran past working hours, so another hearing was scheduled.
23/10/2025, Shirvan Court of Appeal – Appeal upheld the 18-year sentence. Lawyers prepared
documents for submission to the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.
12/11/2025 – Igbal transferred to Correctional Facility No. 12 in Baku.
Igbal Abilov (born in 1989) is a scientific researcher, the chief editor of the "Herald of the Talysh National Academy," and a member of the Talysh National Academy.Click here for detailed biography of Igbal AbilovFrom early childhood, Igbal has lived in Belarus. In 2012, he graduated from the Faculty of International Relations of Belarusian State University. Then, continuing his academic activities, he completed his master's degree (2013) and doctoral studies (2016) at the same faculty. For the next seven years, he taught at BSU and the Belarusian Institute of Law. He has publications in the fields of the history and ethnography of the South Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran.
He is the chief editor of "The Herald of the National Academy of Talysh" - an international scientific journal dedicated to the scholarly study of the Talysh. TNA is exclusively a scientific organization, does not participate in political activities, and does not make political statements.
