Amnesty International launches letter campaign to Ilham Aliyev: Free Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov

The international human rights organization Amnesty International has launched a campaign calling for the release of the imprisoned academics Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov in Azerbaijan.

The organization aims to draw attention to their imprisonment by applying pressure both domestically and internationally.

Bahruz Samadov was sentenced to 15 years in prison in June 2025 on charges of "high treason." He was accused of collaborating with Armenian intelligence services.

Igbal Abilov was sentenced to 18 years in May 2025 on charges of "high treason" and "inciting ethnic hatred." He is known as a scholar who advocates for the preservation of the Talysh language, history, and culture.

Both individuals deny the charges and consider their imprisonment to be politically motivated.

As part of the campaign, Amnesty International is calling on people to write letters to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Amnesty International views the prosecution and imprisonment of Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov as part of an ongoing campaign of repression against critics, scholars, and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan:

“These individuals have been targeted solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. The long prison sentences of Igbal Abilov and Bahruz Samadov aim to silence academic criticism and suppress engagement with politically sensitive issues.”

Amnesty International demands that the Azerbaijani authorities immediately and unconditionally release both scholars.“Until their release, they must be granted appropriate medical care and access to visits by the Ombudsperson and independent monitors. At the same time, we demand an immediate end to the repression of journalists, activists, and peaceful critics in Azerbaijan, and full compliance with the country’s international human rights obligations. At present, the Azerbaijani authorities continue to abuse the criminal justice system to silence critical voices and academic research in the fields of human rights and freedom of expression,” the organization stated.

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