The Azerbaijani authorities have intensified their crackdown on political dissidents both inside the country and abroad, initiating criminal proceedings and issuing official summons for several prominent government critics.

The targeted individuals include Qurban Mammadov, Tural Sadigli, Qabil Mammadov, Mahammad Mirzali and Elshad Mammadov, among others. Charges against them range from inciting unrest to fraud and terrorism-related allegations. Many of these figures have been vocal opponents of the Azerbaijani government, frequently using social media and online platforms to criticise President Ilham Aliyev’s administration, corruption, and human rights abuses.

Meanwhile, inside Azerbaijan, activists, journalists, and opposition figures continue to face arrests, lengthy detentions, and legal proceedings under broad charges.

Crackdown on opposition abroad

The Prosecutor General’s Office released the official summons through Public TV of Azerbaijan for Qurban Mammadov to appear on April 16. He faces multiple charges under the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, including inciting mass unrest (Article 220.2), calling for the violent overthrow of the government (Article 281.2), and unlawfully disseminating state secrets (Article 284.2). Authorities claim that between 2019 and 2023, he made public calls for mass protests and the violent seizure of power.

Mammadov, a former lawyer and opposition figure, has been living in exile in the UK and is known for his harsh criticism of the Azerbaijani government. He was previously declared wanted in 2020, and a pre-trial detention order was issued against him.

Sadigli, another critic residing abroad, has been summoned to appear on April 15. He faces charges of fraud (Article 178.1), forgery of documents (Article 320.1), and incitement to public disorder (Article 220.2). Authorities allege he misled Azerbaijani citizens in Germany by promising them residency permits in exchange for money. He is also accused of fabricating asylum-related documents and calling for mass protests against the Azerbaijani government.

Sadigli, a political activist and journalist, has consistently reported on government corruption and human rights violations through his YouTube channel, which has a substantial following among Azerbaijanis both inside and outside the country.

Azerbaijan has initiated extradition procedures for Qabil Mammadov, who is currently residing in Germany. He is accused of inciting terrorism through social media and financially supporting individuals involved in unrest. Authorities allege that between 2015 and 2017, he defrauded individuals of AZN29,597 by promising them employment and social benefits. A previous arrest warrant was issued against him, and his charges were expanded in 2024 to include terrorism financing and fraud.

Mammadov, a long-time critic of the government, has previously faced persecution in Azerbaijan and sought asylum in Germany, where he has been active in diaspora opposition movements.

Mirzali, a well-known critic of the Azerbaijani government, has also been charged with inciting mass riots (Article 220.2) and calling for the violent overthrow of the government (Article 281.1). Azerbaijani authorities claim he made public appeals for unrest in 2018, leading to the issuance of a search warrant and a pre-trial detention order against him.

Mirzali, who currently resides in France, has survived multiple assassination attempts, which he attributes to Azerbaijani government operatives. His blog and social media platforms frequently expose corruption among Azerbaijani officials, making him a high-profile target of government crackdowns.

"The Azerbaijani government has initiated unfounded criminal proceedings against me and issued an international warrant. All this is happening simply because I express myself in a way that displeases Aliyev," Mirzali said on his X (formerly Twitter) account.

Elshad Mammadov faces charges of making public calls for the forcible seizure of power (Article 281.2). Authorities claim he spread materials online between 2021 and 2022, encouraging violent resistance against the Azerbaijani government. A warrant was issued against him in 2022, and he is currently wanted by Azerbaijani law enforcement. Mammadov, an activist based in Europe, has been involved in opposition networks and has frequently participated in protests against the Azerbaijani government.

Escalation of repression inside Azerbaijan

On March 14, Azerbaijani authorities detained multiple civil society activists linked to non-governmental organisations and election monitoring groups according to RFE/RL Azerbaijan bureau. Among those arrested were Bashir Suleymanli, head of the Citizens’ Rights Institute, and Altay Mammadzade, executive director of the Election Monitoring Alliance.

They face charges including abuse of office (Article 308.2), document forgery (Article 313), and money laundering (Article 193-1.3.2). The Binagadi District Court ordered their pre-trial detention for three months and 28 days. Hafiz Hasanov, head of the Legal and Development Public Union, and lawyer Khalid Agaliyev were also detained but later released. Their arrests are linked to a reopened investigation into foreign-funded NGOs, originally launched in 2014 and revived in 2020, according to lawyer Emin Abasov.

On the same day, a Baku court extended the pre-trial detention of six journalists associated with Meydan TV. Those affected include Ramin Jabrayilzade, Aynur Ganbarova, Natiq Javadli, Khayala Aghayeva, Aysel Umudova and Ulvi Tahirov. Their detention was extended for an additional three months.

Earlier, activist Rauf Heydarov was arrested on March 12, a day after posting a photo on Facebook showing solidarity with jailed female journalists. He was sentenced to 30 days in detention under charges of minor hooliganism (Article 510) and disobeying police orders (Article 535.1). Heydarov claims he was violently detained, beaten, and coerced into signing a statement waiving his right to a lawyer. The Baku Court of Appeal upheld his detention.

Two activists from the opposition Popular Front Party (AXCP), Zaur Asgarov and Gunduz Mirzayev, were arrested on March 7 and charged with making anti-state calls (Article 281.2). Their lawyer argues that their detention is politically motivated, and the party reports that 15 of its members are currently imprisoned on similar charges. The Baku Court of Appeal upheld the detentions on March 13.

The Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s Office has warned all accused individuals, both inside and outside the country, that failure to comply with legal summons could result in in absentia legal proceedings, leading to potential convictions without their presence.

Human rights groups argue that these legal actions are part of a broader effort to silence dissent. International organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have repeatedly condemned Azerbaijan’s crackdown on journalists, activists, and political opponents. The wave of arrests comes amid heightened government pressure on independent media and civil society, raising concerns about the erosion of political freedoms in the country. Observers note that Baku’s recent actions signal an expansion of its efforts to suppress dissent both domestically and internationally.