human rights defender

Elmir Abbasov

Actions and Campaigns

© Social Media

Urgent support needed

International monitoring of prison conditions

Organization affiliation

  • "Toplum" TV

HRD's year of birth

1994

HRD's Gender

Man

Type of HRD

  • Journalist/Blogger

HRD's thematic area of engagement

  • Civil and political rights

HRD's geographical origin

Urban

HRD's bio and work

Elmir Abbasov is an Azerbaijani civil society activist and media worker, born in 1994. A member of the NIDA Civic Movement, he worked as Social Media Manager at the independent news outlet Toplum TV. He previously faced administrative detention in connection with his activism, including a 30-day sentence in February 2021.

On 6 March 2024, Abbasov was detained during the police operation targeting Toplum TV and subsequently released under police supervision. On 27 July 2026, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced him to 11 years, 11 months and 28 days’ imprisonment and imposed a two-and-a-half-year ban on holding certain positions. He was taken into custody in the courtroom.

He was convicted on multiple criminal charges, including money laundering, tax evasion, and other alleged financial and economic offences. He and his co-defendants have consistently rejected all charges, maintaining that the criminal proceedings against them are politically motivated and linked to their legitimate professional activities in the media. International organisations recognise him as a political prisoner.

Current Status

In prison (sentenced)

Detained since

Jul 27, 2026

Charge(s)

  • Financial crimes

Sentence

11 years, 11 months and 28 days’ imprisonment and a two-year, six-month ban on holding certain positions.

Geolocation of detention

Country or area of detention

Region of detention

  • Asia: Western Asia

Location of detention - City/Town

Baku

Location of detention - Facility

Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre

Allegations / reports of ill-treatment

During an earlier detention in February 2021, Elmir Abbasov alleged that police officers beat him and planted drugs in his pocket. At his appeal hearing on 3 March 2021, he linked the abuse and prosecution to his critical social-media posts. The court rejected his lawyer’s requests to obtain CCTV footage and question a senior police officer.

Recent case update / evolution

On 27 July 2026, the Baku Grave Crimes Court convicted Elmir Abbasov in the “Toplum TV case” and sentenced him to 11 years, 11 months and 28 days’ imprisonment, along with a two-and-a-half-year prohibition on holding certain positions. He was taken into custody in the courtroom.

Documented by