Talysh Activist Detained in Turkey, Moved to Azerbaijan

Kamal Isayev

Kamal Isayev, a Talysh social activist with Russian citizenship who has lived in Moscow for a long time, was detained in Istanbul and then moved to Azerbaijan by the State Security Service (DTX). His wife, Aida Isayeva, shared this, saying she found out about it on November 12 from family in Baku.

How It Happened

Isayev, who has a chronic peptic ulcer, went from Moscow to Istanbul on November 2 for medical care. His wife last spoke to him on November 7 through WhatsApp. He told her he was flying back home on the night of November 8. The next morning, she couldn't reach him.

After days of calling lawyers in Turkey, Aida Isayeva learned on November 12 from her sister-in-law that Isayev was in a Baku detention center. A government lawyer had given her the information.

What He Did

Kamal Isayev worked to protect the rights of the Talysh minority and help promote the Talysh language. He also stood up for people in Azerbaijan who were arrested for political reasons.

Isayev was active online, running YouTube channels like Jahid Kamal and Arya Toloş. On these channels, he often spoke out against the Azerbaijani government's policies toward ethnic minorities. He had mentioned on social media that he was part of the Talysh-Mughan Republic, a separatist group that didn't last long after Azerbaijan became independent.

The Talysh are the largest ethnic minority in Azerbaijan, with an estimated population between 500,000 and one million. They have been asking for more ethnic independence and civil rights, like being able to study in their own language.

Citizenship Issue

There's some disagreement about Isayev's citizenship, which the detention even more tricky.

Jahangir Javadov, the first lawyer on the case, said that Isayev didn't want him to represent him and didn't want any information about the charges to be shared. Javadov said that Isayev has citizenship in two countries and is registered in Azerbaijan. The lawyer said this would mean the deportation is legal under international law.

Aida Isayeva disagrees, saying that her husband never got an Azerbaijani passport after the Soviet Union fell apart and only has a Russian passport. His name isn't the country’s Central Election Commission website, which lists voters.

Aida Isayeva has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for help getting her husband released through social media.

Other Similar Cases

Isayev's detention is one of a few recent cases involving Talysh people in the world of culture:

Zahiraddin Ibrahimov: This Talysh historian who lived in Russia for over 20 years went missing in Yekaterinburg, Russia, in March. His family in Azerbaijan then got a letter from the DTX with charges against him, including treason.

Igbal Abilov: A Talysh culture researcher living in Belarus was arrested while visiting Azerbaijan on July 22, 2024. The Lankaran Court for Grave Crimes sentenced him to 18 years in prison for treason, working with Armenian special services, and stirring up national hatred. His defense team says his work was only about science and culture. International human rights groups, including UN officials, have recognized him as a political prisoner.