Prosecutor Requests 19-Year Sentence for Ethnic Researcher Iqbal Abilov

Iqbal Abilov

A 19-year prison sentence has been requested for Iqbal Abilov, editor-in-chief of the journal Talysh National Academy News and one of the founders of the Talysh National Academy registered in Latvia. The proposal was made by the prosecutor on May 2, 2025, during a session of the Lankaran Grave Crimes Court.

The prosecutor stated that the charges brought against Abilov under Articles 274 (treason), 281.3 (public calls against the state made under the instruction of foreign organizations), and 283.1 (incitement of national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code have been proven in court. Abilov is accused of cooperating with Armenian intelligence services and attempting, in a coordinated manner, to incite ethnic hatred in Azerbaijan by sharing targeted materials online.

The case is being heard in the Lankaran Grave Crimes Court, but since Abilov is held at the Baku Pretrial Detention Center, he has been participating in the proceedings online from the Kurdakhani detention facility. The trial is being conducted behind closed doors due to the presence of information classified as a state secret.

Abilov, who is ethnically Talysh, has denied all charges. According to his statements in court and to his relatives, he does not consider himself guilty. His family told Radio Azadliq that he has particularly rejected the charge of treason, calling the allegation of spying for Armenia false. Regarding the accusation of inciting ethnic hatred, Abilov emphasized: “I am a researcher of the Talysh language and culture; accusing me of sowing ethnic enmity is absurd.”

Abilov had been living in Belarus with his family since childhood and only occasionally visited Azerbaijan. According to his relatives, his most recent visit was in July 2024 to attend his cousin’s wedding. He was detained at the airport while attempting to leave the country and informed that he was banned from exiting. A few days later, on July 22, 2024, he was officially arrested by officers of the State Security Service (SSS). On July 24, 2024, the Sabail District Court placed him in pretrial detention for four months, a term that has since been extended.

Iqbal Abilov has been in custody since July 22, 2024. As of May 2025, he has spent over ten months in detention.

Abilov, 36, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Belarusian State University in 2012 and completed his master’s degree there in 2013. He was admitted to the university’s doctoral program in 2016. As editor-in-chief of Talysh National Academy News, he oversaw the publication of research, folklore, and historical documents related to the Talysh people.

The court proceedings are scheduled to continue on May 12, 2025, with closing arguments from the defense. After that, Abilov is expected to deliver his final statement, and the court will announce its verdict.