human rights defender
Ilhamiz Guliyev
Actions and Campaigns
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Urgent support needed
International monitoring of prison conditions
HRD's year of birth
1982
HRD's Gender
Man
Type of HRD
- Whistle blower
HRD's thematic area of engagement
- Fight against impunity
HRD's geographical origin
Urban
HRD's bio and work
Ilhamiz Guliyev is a human rights defender, civic activist and former unofficial assistant to a police investigator. Drawing on his knowledge of police practices, he gave an anonymous interview to Abzas Media describing how undocumented narcotics were allegedly planted on government critics and how drug-related criminal cases were fabricated.
After his identity reportedly became known to the authorities, he was subjected to administrative detention, surveillance and a travel ban. On 4 December 2023, he was arrested on drug charges that he denies.
Ilhamiz Guliyev and his lawyers consider the prosecution to be retaliation for his whistleblowing interview, in which he exposed alleged police misconduct, including the planting of evidence against government critics. In its resolution adopted on 25 April 2024, the European Parliament identified him as a human rights defender and whistleblower, condemned his arbitrary detention, and called for his immediate and unconditional release.
Current Status
In prison (sentenced)
Detained since
Dec 4, 2023
Charge(s)
- Possession of illegal material
Sentence
Three years’ imprisonment
Latitude: 40.43896846267691
Longitude: 50.089779353708806
Geolocation of detention
Country or area of detention
Region of detention
- Asia: Western Asia
Location of detention - City/Town
Baku
Location of detention - Facility
Penitentiary Institution No. 9
Allegations / reports of ill-treatment
Ilhamiz Guliyev alleges that police officers beat him during his arrest and transport, squeezed his genitals, threatened him with further violence and attempted to force him to confess that the drugs belonged to him. He also reported that he was denied prompt access to a lawyer and the opportunity to inform his family.
Following his transfer to the Umbaki Penitentiary Complex in December 2024, his family reported that he was forcibly stripped, kept naked for approximately 20 minutes in a cold room in the presence of four officers and repeatedly ordered to squat. He also complained of threats, inadequate heating, interference with food parcels and restrictions on contacting his lawyer and relevant state institutions.
Recent case update / evolution
On 4 February 2026, the Supreme Court did not grant Ilhamiz Guliyev’s cassation appeal, leaving his three-year prison sentence unchanged.
Any other relevant documents
European Parliament resolution of 25 April 2024 on Azerbaijan, notably the repression of civil society and the cases of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu and Ilhamiz Guliyev (2024/2698(RSP)) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2024-0369_EN.pdf
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