Azerbaijani Scholar Jailed 18 Years: Online Chat with Armenian Sparks Outrage

Azerbaijan: Scholar Jailed for 18 Years for Online Conversation with Armenian Professor Baku, Azerbaijan – Igbal Abilov, a 36-year-old Azerbaijani scholar, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison on charges of treason. The charges are based on online conversations he had with Garnik Asatryan, an Armenian scholar specializing in Iranian studies. The trial has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups who cite a lack of evidence and concerns about Azerbaijan's increasing suppression of dissent. "This case highlights the alarming trend of silencing critical voices in Azerbaijan," said [Name and Title of Human Rights Advocate], in a statement released earlier this week. "Abilov's conviction is based on flimsy evidence and underscores the urgent need for judicial reform." Abilov's father reported that his son was interrogated for hours and that his phone was tapped, even though he was residing outside Azerbaijan at the time of the alleged offense. The Azerbaijani government has not yet responded to these allegations. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and Azerbaijan's 2023 military actions in the region have exacerbated existing animosities. While the government claims Abilov's actions posed a threat to national security, critics argue the conviction is politically motivated and aimed at suppressing academic freedom and free expression. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, and calls for Abilov's release are growing louder.