In court, Abilov called his persecution part of systemic discrimination against the Talysh people.
The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan upheld the conviction of Talysh cultural researcher Igbal Abilov. Abilov called the court's refusal to provide a Talysh interpreter, as well as the persecution itself, discrimination against the Talysh people. His defense intends to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.