[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f3dc95″ custom_padding=”12px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”IGBAL ABILOV” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” title_text_align=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ background_color=”#f3dc95″ custom_margin=”-59px|||||” custom_padding=”0px|||||” transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”46px|0px|4px|0px||” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”||0px|||” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”44px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”452px” custom_margin=”||75px|||” custom_padding=”3px||3px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Igbal Abilov, an independent researcher of Talysh origin and human rights defender, was born on 12 December 1989 in the village of Kolatan in the Masally district of the Azerbaijan SSR. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Minsk, Belarus. He studied at Belarusian State University (BSU), where he earned a Bachelor\u2019s degree in 2012 and a Master\u2019s degree in 2013 from the Faculty of International Relations. He continued his academic career by completing his postgraduate studies in 2016.From 2019 to 2022, Abilov was a senior teacher and lecturer at BSU and the University of Law and Social-Information Technologies, where he taught International Relations, Ethnopolitics, and Conflict Resolution. He is a scientific researcher, ethnographer, and Talysh scholar.As a researcher, he studies the history and culture of the South Caucasus, Turkey, and Iran. He is the editor-in-chief of the \u201cHerald of the Talysh National Academy\u201d, an international scientific journal focusing on the study of the Talysh people, an ethnic minority in the region. This is a major part of his activism. He is also known as a peace activist and a defender of minority rights. His work focuses on preserving the Talysh language and culture.Abilov\u2019s academic work and peaceful activism became the direct causes of his persecution. Authorities have compared his specialised research on ethnic minorities to high treason and \u201cforeign-instructed\u201d anti-state appeals, but there is no record of separate arrests before his 2024 detention.1<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/free-anar.site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/poster-18-scaled.png” alt=”Igbal Abilov poster” title_text=”Igbal Abilov poster” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-32px|||||” animation_style=”slide” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”642px” custom_padding=”3px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In June 2024, Igbal Abilov arrived in Azerbaijan for a family wedding. On 20 June 2024, State Security officers questioned him for six hours. Days later, when he tried to leave the country, they seized his passport and phones at the airport. On 22 July 2024, the State Security Service (SSS) officially arrested him in the Masally district. They then took him to Baku without informing his family. Two days later, the Sabail District Court remanded him to four months of pre-trial detention, which was extended several times. The lawyer\u2019s motions to transfer Abilov to house arrest were rejected by the court several times.Initially, Abilov was charged under Criminal Code Article 274 (high treason), Article 281.3 (public calls against the state at the direction of foreign organisations), and Article 283.1 (incitement of national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity). The charges alleged that he worked with Armenian special services and followed their orders to stir up ethnic hatred. The accusations were based on a short Skype conversation with an Armenian academic colleague.On 26 February 2025, the Lankaran Court for Grave Crimes began the criminal trial. The judge stated that state secrets were involved, so the proceedings were held behind closed doors. The court rejected the defence\u2019s motion to open the hearing.On 20 May 2025, the court convicted and sentenced him to eighteen years in prison. However, he and his lawyers stated that the criminal case against Abilov lacked credible evidence.Igbal Abilov was held at the State Security Service office in Baku before his trial. He was often kept in a solitary confinement cell. In detention, he was deprived of prison phone calls and family visits. His case was classified, and he was not allowed to share any case materials even with family members. Currently, he is being held under harsh prison conditions.2<\/a>,<\/sup>3<\/a>,<\/sup>4<\/a>,<\/sup>5<\/a>,<\/sup>6<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-6px|||” custom_padding=”||60px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Kampaniyan\u0131n b\u00fct\u00fcn Campaign’s resources<\/a> resurslar\u0131 CC0 \u015f\u0259rtl\u0259ri alt\u0131nda Creative Commons Lisenziyas\u0131 CC0 conditions<\/a>, meaning these resources are public dedication tools, with no copyright, put into the worldwide public domain.<\/p>\n Download blue background poster (PNG<\/a>)<\/p>\nCase description<\/h3>\n
References<\/h4>\n
\n
Resources about Igbal Abilov<\/h4>\n