Iqbal Abilov, Talysh researcher, detained.

Iqbal Abilov, a citizen of Azerbaijan, ethnic Talysh, who came from Belarus to Azerbaijan for a visit, was detained on 22 July in Bala Kolatan village of Masally region by officers of the State Security Service.

According to Abilov's relatives, he has been living in Belarus since childhood and came to Azerbaijan on 14 June to attend his cousin's wedding.

On 22 June, Abilov was summoned to the Masally region department of the SSS and interrogated for 6 hours.

On 27 June, when flying from Baku to Minsk, he was not allowed on board the plane, having taken away his passport and phone.

On 22 July, Abilov was again summoned to the Masally region department of the SSS under the pretext of returning his passport and phone. However, without notifying his parents, Abilov was taken to Baku.

After appealing to the Ombudsman, the parents were informed that Abilov is suspected under Articles 283 (incitement to ethnic hatred) and 274 (state treason) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

He is expected to appear before the Sabail court today to choose a preventive measure.

Those close to him believe that Abilov has been detained on far-fetched charges, the real reason for his prosecution being his research on various national minorities, including the Talysh of Azerbaijan.

Abilov, being a citizen of Azerbaijan, also has a residence permit in Belarus.

Note that Abilov is one of the founders of the Talysh National Academy, registered in Riga, as well as the editor-in-chief of the printed organ of this structure, the “Bulletin of the Talysh National Academy”.

He has also published on the website of the Centre for Support of Russian-Armenian Strategic and Public Initiatives russia-armenia.info.