Azerbaijani opposition figure Gultakin Hajibayli, member of the National Council’s Coordination Board, has been detained in Istanbul and remains in a deportation center, sparking concerns over her potential return to Azerbaijan amid ongoing political crackdowns.
According to Hajibayli’s statements on Facebook, she was taken from her rented Istanbul apartment on the night of November 30 by Turkish law enforcement while with her son. She emphasized that she had arrived in Turkey on September 25 to stay with her son, who is studying in the country, and that her 90-day visa-free period had not yet expired. Additionally, she holds a two-year residence permit. Hajibayli said authorities gave no legal explanation for her detention, which she claims is connected to a request from the Azerbaijani government:
“Even though I told the security officers that I had an IELTS exam at 9 a.m. the next day, apparently the order was too strict, and they did not allow it.”
Hajibayli’s detention followed the arrests of several Azerbaijani opposition figures, including the chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (AXCP), Ali Karimli, and board member Mammad Ibrahim, during a raid by the State Security Service in Baku on November 29. These detentions have been framed by Azerbaijani government-aligned media as part of an investigation related to former Presidential Administration chief Ramiz Mehdiyev, while opposition groups claim the arrests are politically motivated.
Currently held at the Arnavutkoy deportation center, Hajibayli has been denied contact with her son. Her lawyer, Bahruz Bayramov, confirmed that no official reason for her detention has been provided and that it remains unclear whether she will be deported to Azerbaijan. Hajibayli has already initiated appeals to the European Court of Human Rights and plans to challenge the detention in Turkish courts:
“I am appealing to the Turkish authorities not to adopt such an illegal decision under pressure from the Azerbaijani government. I have never violated any law in my political activity, and it is unacceptable for me to be deported as a ‘foreign terrorist’ under Article G-82 due to Azerbaijani pressures.”
The issue has also drawn attention within the Turkish parliament. Omer Faruk Gergerlioglu, MP from the Democracy and Equality Party, questioned Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya regarding the legal basis for Hajibayli’s detention under the G-82 code, whether Azerbaijan formally requested her deportation, and the procedures ensuring her legal and human rights. Gergerlioglu also asked for clarification on the use of G-82 in prior cases involving Azerbaijani citizens and whether risk assessments had been conducted to prevent potential political persecution:
“Hajibayli considers this decision political and has stated that if she is sent back, she will be imprisoned.”
Hajibayli has consistently rejected allegations linking her to Ramiz Mehdiyev, calling such claims “absurd” and emphasizing that she has always advocated for democratic and peaceful political engagement. She has warned that her deportation would signal Turkey’s tacit support for the ongoing political repression in Azerbaijan:
“If I am deported, it will mean that Turkey is supporting the current repressions against the Azerbaijani opposition.”
As of early December, no official statement has been made by Turkish or Azerbaijani authorities regarding the detention or potential deportation of Hajibayli. The case continues to draw international scrutiny, highlighting growing concerns about the treatment of political dissidents in the region.
