human rights defender
Kamal Isayev
Actions and Campaigns
© OC Media
Urgent support needed
Independent medical examination
International monitoring of prison conditions
HRD's year of birth
1972
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Journalist/Blogger
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Minorities’ rights
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
HRD's bio and work
Kamal Isayev is a Talysh rights activist and blogger who lived in Moscow and holds Russian citizenship.
Through his YouTube channels, “Jahid Kamal” and “Arya Toloş”, he has advocated for the preservation of the Talysh language, cultural heritage and identity, and criticised the Azerbaijani authorities’ policies towards ethnic minorities.
In November 2025, Isayev was detained during a visit to Turkey for medical treatment and transferred to Azerbaijan.
He was prosecuted for public calls against the state, distributing symbols allegedly aimed at undermining Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, and inciting ethnic, racial, social or religious hatred through violence or threats of violence.
He denied the allegations, stating that he recognised Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and that his activities concerned the protection of Talysh language and culture. On 8 September 2026, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced him to eight years and six months’ imprisonment.
Current Status
In prison (sentenced)
Detained since
Nov 7, 2025
Charge(s)
- Anti-government propaganda
Sentence
Eight years and six months' imprisonment
Latitude: 40.20196312116557
Longitude: 49.41154156718958
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
Location of detention - City/Town
Baku
Location of detention - Facility
Umbaki Penitentiary Complex
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
According to his wife, Kamal Isayev became unreachable on 8 November 2025 while visiting Turkey for medical treatment, and his family learned only on 12 November that he was in Azerbaijani custody. Human Rights Watch described his transfer to Azerbaijan as forcible and raised his case as an example of transnational repression. His wife reported that he has a chronic gastrointestinal condition requiring ongoing treatment. The sources reviewed do not establish whether he has received adequate treatment in detention or contain specific allegations of physical abuse against him.
Recent case update / evolution
On 8 September 2026, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Kamal Isayev to eight years and six months’ imprisonment.
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