22/05/2025 Legal Affairs and Human Rights
The PACE General Rapporteur for political prisoners, Azadeh Rojhan (Sweden, SOC), made the following statement regarding the conviction of Igbal Abilov, a Talysh historian and ethnographer, on charges of high treason in Azerbaijan:
“I am deeply concerned by the verdict of the Lankaran Serious Crimes Court of 20 May, which sentenced Mr Abilov to 18 years’ imprisonment, after finding him guilty of treason and incitement of hatred. The factual basis for the charges related to his professional exchanges with Armenian scholars, as Mr Abilov, a historian and ethnographer, was conducting research into the history and culture of the Talysh minority.
Academic freedom, which guarantees freedom to conduct research and disseminate knowledge and truth without restriction, is undoubtedly protected by the right to freedom of expression. It is a cornerstone of democratic societies, and researchers must be protected from any undue political interference. I call on the Azerbaijani authorities to promptly review the charges against Mr Abilov and release him, along with all other individuals, including human rights defenders, journalists and academics, who are imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression.”