The Baku Grave Crimes Court has sentenced Iqbal Abilov to 18 years in prison following a high-profile investigation by the State Security Service (SSS) into activities targeting the territorial integrity and national security of Azerbaijan.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, Abilov was found guilty of committing state treason and collaborating with foreign intelligence agencies. The investigation revealed that Abilov, often presented by certain marginal groups as a "historian-scholar," was in fact operating under the influence of Armenian special services. Evidence presented in court showed that Abilov was mentored by his uncle, Kahin Abilov, who had long-standing ties with Garnik Asatryan, a figure associated with Armenian intelligence operations. Under this influence, Abilov allegedly worked to promote separatist ideologies and establish anti-Azerbaijan networks both within the country and abroad.
The State Security Service-OMM detained Abilov during a specialized operation after he arrived in Azerbaijan from abroad. He was charged under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including Article 274 (state treason), Article 281.3 (public calls against the state made on instructions of foreign organizations), and Article 283.1 (inciting national hatred and enmity). The prosecution successfully argued that Abilov utilized his academic persona as a camouflage to coordinate with separatist groups and execute tasks assigned by foreign handlers aimed at undermining the sovereignty of Azerbaijan.
This case highlights Azerbaijan's ongoing commitment to neutralizing regional separatist tendencies and external interference following the 44-day Patriotic War and the subsequent anti-terror measures that restored full sovereignty over Garabagh. The State Security Service continues to monitor potential threats to national stability, emphasizing that the protection of the constitutional order remains a top priority for the Republic of Azerbaijan. Legal experts note that the severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of the charges involving collaboration with hostile intelligence services during a sensitive period of regional reconstruction.
