Iqbal Abilov
On November 19, the Sabail District Court of Baku granted the prosecution's request to extend the pretrial detention of Talysh researcher Iqbal Abilov for another four months, his lawyer, Rovshan Rahimov reported. According to the lawyer, the defense considers Abilov’s detention to be unjustified and disputes the charges brought against him. Abilov himself also rejected the accusations. The defense plans to file an appeal against the court's decision.
*Iqbal Abilov was arrested on July 22, 2024, on charges of treason, calls for actions against the state at the behest of foreign organizations, and inciting national and religious discord. In particular, it is claimed that these crimes were committed under the direction of Armenian intelligence services.
Abilov denies the charges and states that he was engaged solely in academic work. A large group of scholars from various countries around the world has appealed to the Azerbaijani authorities, requesting their assistance in securing Abilov’s release. Human rights organizations have recognized Abilov as a political prisoner.
Politics
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On Saturday, December 7th, a session of the "Musavat" Party's Majlis took place. During the session, the party leader, Isa Gambar, presented a report on the current socio-political situation in the country. The Majlis also approved a decision by the party’s board to grant district organizations of "Musavat" the authority to nominate candidates for the municipal elections scheduled for January 29, 2025. The party outlined its main areas of activity for 2025. A statement was issued on the human rights situation in the country.
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The human rights organization Freedom Now has joined calls to end the pressure on independent media in Azerbaijan.
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The press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the arrests of Meydan TV employees. A statement of the organization on RSF’s X (formerly Twitter) account said: "Reporters Without Borders condemns these new arrests and calls for their immediate release, as well as the release of 13 other journalists held in disgraceful conditions on trumped-up charges."
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"I was deeply concerned to learn of the arrest of journalists working with Meydan TV. A free and independent press is a vital component of any democracy. Journalists must be able to report on issues without the fear of arrest, intimidation, or violence." This statement was posted by the UK Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld, on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday.
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