13. Political Prisoners and the Case of Akif Gurbanov
The case of Akif Gurbanov illustrates the risks faced by any active citizen in Azerbaijan. A long-standing advocate at the Council of Europe, Gurbanov is a prominent civil society leader who, for more than a decade, has defended democratic principles, supported persecuted activists, and challenged authoritarian practices in his country.
Gurbanov first attracted public attention in 2013 as a member of the Central Election Commission, when he openly opposed and refused to endorse the official results of the presidential elections, citing widespread irregularities. Following this act of defiance, he shifted his focus towards supporting civil society organisations and individuals targeted in the government’s 2014 crackdown.
That same year, Gurbanov co-founded the Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI), a platform aimed at promoting democratic reform and supporting human rights and media organisations operating in hostile conditions. Despite repeated attempts, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice refused to register the organisation, a decision later criticised by the European Court of Human Rights in its 2021 judgment Abdullayev and Others v. Azerbaijan, which recognised the refusal as a violation of the right to freedom of association.
Under Gurbanov’s leadership, IDI grew into a critical actor within Azerbaijani civil society. Since 2015, the organisation has engaged in strategic litigation before the ECtHR, provided legal assistance to vulnerable communities, and supported the professional development of human rights defenders, journalists, researchers, and youth activists. In 2019, IDI launched a fact-checking initiative and became a member of the International Fact-Checking Network.
Besides his organisational leadership, Gurbanov has been dedicated to developing independent media. He co-founded Toplum TV, a news outlet that offers office space and supports the training of young journalists. In 2023, his civic involvement evolved into political leadership when he co-founded and became the spokesperson for the III Republic Platform, a movement advocating for a democratic political system, fair elections, and a rights-based approach to addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges.
However, his continued activism has made him a prime target. On 6 March 2024, police raided the joint offices of IDI, Toplum TV, and the III Republic Platform. Gurbanov was arrested with the use of physical force and charged with “conspiring to smuggle foreign currency” – charges widely regarded as politically motivated retaliation for his human rights work.
He is currently held in Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre No.1 in dire conditions, facing threats, harassment, and intimidation. Reports indicate that senior officials have pressured him to cease his criticism of President Aliyev and that he has been threatened with torture. Other detainees connected to IDI and Toplum TV have also been subjected to threats of deteriorating prison conditions should Gurbanov continue his outspoken criticism.
The persecution of Gurbanov also had dire consequences for his family. Gurbanov reported from behind bars that after his arrest, his father’s car, his children’s computers and phones, and his father’s phones were confiscated.
Despite these pressures, Gurbanov continues to deny the charges against him, framing them as retaliation for his relentless defence of democracy and human rights in Azerbaijan. His case has become emblematic of the broader assault on civil society in the country.
In 2024, Gurbanov was shortlisted for the PACE Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. Although he did not ultimately receive the award, the nomination itself served as an essential gesture of international solidarity. It provided him with a much-needed source of recognition while in detention.