Azerbaijan court sentences man over anti-state calls

The trial of Cahid Kamal Isayev, who was charged with making public calls directed against the state, has concluded.

"Operative Information Center-OMM" reports that at the final hearing chaired by Farid Namazov, a judge at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence the defendant to nine years and six months in prison.

Following deliberations, the court handed down its verdict and sentenced Cahid Kamal Isayev to eight years and six months in prison.

It was previously reported that Isayev, a Russian citizen residing in Russia, was detained by the State Security Service (SSS) in November 2025 while traveling to Türkiye and extradited to Azerbaijan.

Isayev was charged under Articles 281.2 (public calls directed against the state committed by a group of persons), 281-1.2 (distribution by a group of persons of attributes and symbols aimed at dismembering the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan) and 283.2.1 (incitement of national, racial, social or religious hatred and hostility involving violence or the threat of violence) of the Criminal Code.

Articles concerning anti-state calls, territorial integrity and incitement to hatred are intended to protect Azerbaijan’s constitutional order, territorial integrity and public security.