Activist Nicat Amiraslanov Detained Over Elgun Ibrahimov Case: Torture Allegations, 15-Day Sentence

Nicat Amiraslanov

Relatives suspect the incident is linked to his distribution of brochures about Elgun, who died under mysterious circumstances.

Public activist Nicat Amiraslanov has reportedly been detained. This information was shared by journalist Elmaddin Shamilzade on his Facebook page. He stated that he received the news of Nicat Amiraslanov’s detention from the activist’s relatives.

"Public activist Nicat Amiraslanov was detained by police in Gazakh. His relatives suspect that the incident is related to his distribution of brochures concerning Elgun, who died under mysterious circumstances," Elmaddin Shamilzade wrote.

Law enforcement agencies have not yet made any public statement regarding his detention.

By decision of the Gazakh District Court, public activist Nicat Amiraslanov was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention under Article 510 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (petty hooliganism).

Relatives of the activist, who spoke to JAMnews, claim that the incident occurred because he was distributing brochures about Elgun Ibrahimov.

Elgun Ibrahimov was a 17-year-old student who died under mysterious circumstances. He was found severely injured in an abandoned dormitory in Ganja and later died in the hospital. Government-aligned media outlets reported his death as a suicide. However, his family insists he did not take his own life but was beaten to death.

Various allegations have circulated on social media claiming that the Prosecutor’s Office has not properly investigated the case. Several activists have also been posting and handing out brochures in different areas containing information about Elgun’s case. Among the claims being circulated is the allegation that the teenager was murdered by police officers.

According to his relatives, Amiraslanov was detained by police in Gazakh on 24 May 2025:

“He was posting brochures about Elgun in the streets. We believe this is the reason for his detention.”

Law enforcement agencies have not issued an official statement regarding the activist’s detention.

Nicat Amiraslanov has long been known as a public activist. He has also worked as an independent journalist. In recent years, he has been detained by police multiple times and received various administrative penalties. There have been past allegations that he was subjected to torture while in custody.

The events of May 2025 were not the first time Amiraslanov had been targeted by authorities. Less than a year earlier, on 15 June 2024, Nicat Amiraslanov, a member of the N!DA Civic Movement, was detained by police. According to his relatives, he left his home in Gazakh during the day, saying he would return shortly, but they were unable to contact him for hours. Only in the evening did reports emerge that he had been taken to the Baku City Main Police Department. Although the reasons for his detention remained unclear, it was confirmed that he was being held at the Khatai District Police Department.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which had previously denied having any information about Amiraslanov, did not comment further on his whereabouts.

It is believed that Amiraslanov’s detention may have been linked to statements made by journalist Shirin Abbasov, who had recently returned to Azerbaijan after more than eight years in exile in Germany. Abbasov was detained at the airport in Baku on 14 June 2024 and brought before the Binagadi District Court the following day. A criminal case had been opened against him under Article 318 of the Criminal Code (illegal crossing of Azerbaijan’s state border), dating back to 2015. However, during the 15 June court hearing, the General Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to cancel the arrest warrant, which the court granted—though the criminal investigation remains open.

Abbasov, known as Shirin Tire, was released under a different form of pretrial restraint. Whether the charges against him will be dropped or the investigation will proceed remains unknown.

Amiraslanov’s 2024 detention occurred amid a broader crackdown on journalists and civic activists in Azerbaijan. According to the most recent report by the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan, more than 300 political prisoners are currently being held in the country. Local and international human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Azerbaijani government to end politically motivated arrests and release those unjustly detained. Government officials, however, continue to deny the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.Relatives suspect the incident is linked to his distribution of brochures about Elgun, who died under mysterious circumstances.

Public activist Nicat Amiraslanov has reportedly been detained. This information was shared by journalist Elmaddin Shamilzade on his Facebook page. He stated that he received the news of Nicat Amiraslanov’s detention from the activist’s relatives.

"Public activist Nicat Amiraslanov was detained by police in Gazakh. His relatives suspect that the incident is related to his distribution of brochures concerning Elgun, who died under mysterious circumstances," Elmaddin Shamilzade wrote.

Law enforcement agencies have not yet made any public statement regarding his detention.

By decision of the Gazakh District Court, public activist Nicat Amiraslanov was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention under Article 510 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (petty hooliganism).

Relatives of the activist, who spoke to JAMnews, claim that the incident occurred because he was distributing brochures about Elgun Ibrahimov.

Elgun Ibrahimov was a 17-year-old student who died under mysterious circumstances. He was found severely injured in an abandoned dormitory in Ganja and later died in the hospital. Government-aligned media outlets reported his death as a suicide. However, his family insists he did not take his own life but was beaten to death.

Various allegations have circulated on social media claiming that the Prosecutor’s Office has not properly investigated the case. Several activists have also been posting and handing out brochures in different areas containing information about Elgun’s case. Among the claims being circulated is the allegation that the teenager was murdered by police officers.

According to his relatives, Amiraslanov was detained by police in Gazakh on 24 May 2025:

“He was posting brochures about Elgun in the streets. We believe this is the reason for his detention.”

Law enforcement agencies have not issued an official statement regarding the activist’s detention.

Nicat Amiraslanov has long been known as a public activist. He has also worked as an independent journalist. In recent years, he has been detained by police multiple times and received various administrative penalties. There have been past allegations that he was subjected to torture while in custody.

The events of May 2025 were not the first time Amiraslanov had been targeted by authorities. Less than a year earlier, on 15 June 2024, Nicat Amiraslanov, a member of the N!DA Civic Movement, was detained by police. According to his relatives, he left his home in Gazakh during the day, saying he would return shortly, but they were unable to contact him for hours. Only in the evening did reports emerge that he had been taken to the Baku City Main Police Department. Although the reasons for his detention remained unclear, it was confirmed that he was being held at the Khatai District Police Department.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which had previously denied having any information about Amiraslanov, did not comment further on his whereabouts.

It is believed that Amiraslanov’s detention may have been linked to statements made by journalist Shirin Abbasov, who had recently returned to Azerbaijan after more than eight years in exile in Germany. Abbasov was detained at the airport in Baku on 14 June 2024 and brought before the Binagadi District Court the following day. A criminal case had been opened against him under Article 318 of the Criminal Code (illegal crossing of Azerbaijan’s state border), dating back to 2015. However, during the 15 June court hearing, the General Prosecutor’s Office filed a motion to cancel the arrest warrant, which the court granted—though the criminal investigation remains open.

Abbasov, known as Shirin Tire, was released under a different form of pretrial restraint. Whether the charges against him will be dropped or the investigation will proceed remains unknown.

Amiraslanov’s 2024 detention occurred amid a broader crackdown on journalists and civic

activists in Azerbaijan. According to the most recent report by the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan, more than 300 political prisoners are currently being held in the country. Local and international human rights organizations have repeatedly called on the Azerbaijani government to end politically motivated arrests and release those unjustly detained. Government officials, however, continue to deny the existence of political prisoners in Azerbaijan.