HRANA – The sentence issued against Karim Esmaeilzadeh, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, has been fully upheld by Branch 31 of the East Azerbaijan Province Court of Appeals. He had previously been sentenced by the lower court to one year in prison, a monetary fine, and the blocking of his social media accounts.

Based on the ruling issued by Branch 31 of the East Azerbaijan Province Court of Appeals, Mr. Esmaeilzadeh was convicted of “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion” and sentenced to one year of discretionary imprisonment, a fine of 50 million tomans, and the blocking of his social media accounts. This Azerbaijani-Turk activist had previously received the same sentence in the court of first instance.

On November 1, 2025, Esmaeilzadeh was released from Tabriz Prison after posting bail.

On October 18, 2025, Esmaeilzadeh was arrested after appearing at the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tabriz and was transferred to The Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility in the city. He was later transferred to Tabriz Prison.

The activist had previously been summoned to the same court branch on October 15, 2025, on charges of spreading falsehoods and propaganda against the regime.

Karim Esmaeilzadeh, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist, had also been arrested by intelligence forces in Tabriz in March 2025 and was eventually released on bail. He has previously faced arrest and conviction on other occasions as well.