Additional Name(s): Şamhal Eyvazov

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Azerbaijan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: April//2018

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Instruction & Teaching Travel Abroad

Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use

Shamkhal Eyvazov

Extra Bio Info:

Shamkhal Eyvazov was detained for his religious activity.

In April 2018, customs officials arrested Eyvazov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM), and his brother, Migdad Eyvazov, on their way from Iran.  Shamkhal Eyvazov, a theologian, had studied in Qom, Iran. He was charged with "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234.4.3 ACC).

On an unspecified date, Eyvazov was reportedly released from prison.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Эльшан Аббасов

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Azerbaijan

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Shi'a

Sentence: 2 Years, 6 Months' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/3/2022

Date of Sentencing: August/30/2022

Date of Release: September//2024

Current Status: Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Freedom Advocacy Religious Instruction & Teaching

Nature of Charges: Drug Trafficking & Illicit Drug Use

Elshan Abbasov

Extra Bio Info:

Elshan Abbasov was imprisoned for his religious activity.

On March 3, 2022, plainclothes officers in Barda arrested Abbasov, a member of the Muslim Unity Movement (MUM).  Activists believe his arrest was tied to his religious activities, educational activities, and activism for religious freedom rights. Abbasov was charged with "illegally purchasing or storing with a view of selling, manufacturing, processing, transporting, transferring or selling of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large amount" (Art. 234.4.3 ACC).

On August 30, 2022, the Ganja Grave Crimes Court sentenced Abbasov to two years and six months in prison for "illegally purchasing or storing without a purpose of selling narcotics or psychotropic substances in a quantity (amount) exceeding necessary for personal consumption" (Art. 234.1 ACC) after lightening the original drug trafficking charge prosecutors brought forward.

In September 2024, Abbasov was released from prison after completing his sentence.

Abbasov had been previously imprisoned for protesting the ban on wearing hijabs in school.

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Aram Rudikovich Danielyan, Даниелян Арам Рудикович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Christian – Jehovah's Witness

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 7 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: January/25/2024

Date of Sentencing: January/25/2024

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Extremism

Aram Danielyan

Extra Bio Info:

Aram Danielyan is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity. 

On January 6, 2022, authorities in Samara detained Danielyan at the airport in relation to his religious activities. Danielyan was investigated for “organizing the activities of a public or religious association or other organization in respect of which a court has adopted a final decision to liquidate or ban activities in connection with extremist activities” (Art. 282.2-1 RCC) over his Jehovah's Witness activities.

In December 2022, Danielyan was released.

On January 25, 2024, the Samara District Court sentenced Danielyan to seven years in prison. He was taken into custody following the verdict. 

On May 20, 2024, the Samara Regional Court upheld Danielyan’s sentence.

Related Cases: Nikolay Vasiliyev, Denis Kuzyanin, Sergey Polosenko

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