Appeal Court Upholds Verdict Against Iqbal Abilov

Iqbal Abilov

The Shirvan Court of Appeal concluded the review of the appeal against the verdict of Talysh researcher Iqbal Abilov on October 23. The Court of Appeal upheld the verdict, according to a statement from the Committee for the Protection of Iqbal Abilov's Rights.

At the same time, Abilov's public defenders note that the researcher was subjected to ill-treatment in the temporary detention cell of the Shirvan Police Department.

Abilov reported this during the trial, and the judge merely stated that the researcher's complaint was "taken note of."

"The accusations against Iqbal Abilov are unfounded and politically motivated. They are related to Iqbal Abilov's research and promotion of the history and cultural heritage of the Talysh people," the rights committee's statement further reads.

The defense will file an appeal in cassation against the verdict.

The Court of Appeal in Azerbaijan upheld the sentence against researcher Iqbal Abilov. The defense disagrees with the court's verdict and intends to file an appeal in cassation with the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan.

35-year-old Azerbaijani citizen Iqbal Abilov, who had lived in Belarus since childhood, arrived in Azerbaijan in 2024 for his cousin's wedding and was detained on suspicion of cooperating with the Armenian special services. Subsequently, the court found him guilty under articles on treason and inciting national hatred and sentenced Abilov to 18 years in prison.

Abilov's relatives and human rights defenders believe the true reason for the persecution is his research on Talysh culture.