Date of Birth: 18 January 1993
Detained Since: 14 July 2020
Affiliation: Talysh blogger and activist

Charges:

• Repeated public calls against the state, aimed at undermining territorial integrity (Art. 281.2)
• Incitement of national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity (Art. 283.1)

Conviction and Sentence:

On 15 April 2021, Aslan Gurbanov was sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment by the Baku Assize Court. The Baku Court of Appeal upheld the verdict on 23 June 2021.

Political Prisoner Status:

His detention meets criteria (a) and (e) of PACE Resolution 1900 (2012):

• Violation of freedom of expression and association, as well as the right to a fair trial under the European Convention on Human Rights.

• Politically motivated prosecution, aimed at silencing him for his online activism and promotion of Talysh identity and minority rights.

Summary:

Aslan Gurbanov is a Talysh blogger and activist known for his online engagement on issues of Talysh identity, language, culture, and minority rights. He was active on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, where he shared cultural materials such as Talysh music, literature, and history, and expressed views on political and social issues, including calls for the release of political detainees.

He was detained on 14 July 2020 and subsequently charged with anti-state propaganda and incitement to hatred. These charges are widely regarded as unfounded and politically motivated, stemming from his peaceful online expression rather than any genuine threat to public order or national security.

The prosecution relied primarily on social media posts, private messages, photographs, and symbolic expressions, including images featuring the so-called “Talysh-Mughan Republic” flag. Authorities reinterpreted these materials as evidence of separatism and incitement, despite the absence of any concrete plan, violent act, or operational activity.

The trial was marked by serious deficiencies. The evidentiary basis was weak and largely circular, relying on indirect witness testimony and expert opinions that expansively interpreted symbolic expression as criminal conduct. In particular, expert reports characterized non-verbal gestures and cultural symbols as calls for violent constitutional change, demonstrating a pattern of criminalizing political speech.

The investigation was conducted under the control of the State Security Service, which organized searches, collected evidence, and recruited witnesses. The court accepted the prosecution’s narrative without critical examination and failed to distinguish between protected expression and genuine incitement to violence.

Mr. Gurbanov’s case reflects a broader pattern in Azerbaijan of targeting Talysh activists and other critical voices through politically motivated prosecutions. His arrest and conviction are widely seen as part of systemic efforts to suppress minority expression and dissent.

International human rights organisations, including Freedom House, have criticised his prosecution as politically motivated.

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