ISMAYILOVA v. AZERBAIJAN and 15 other applications

Published on 30 March 2026   THIRD SECTION Application no. 18839/24 Khadija ISMAYILOVA against Azerbaijan and 15 other applications (see list appended) communicated on 13 March 2026 SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE The present applications concern the applicants’ complaints under Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention concerning travel bans imposed by the domestic authorities on the applicants, who were prevented from leaving Azerbaijan. They further complain under Article 18 that their Convention rights were restricted for purposes other than those prescribed in the Convention. Some applicants also raise complaints under Articles 8, 10 and 13 of the Convention. QUESTIONS TO THE PARTIES   COMMON QUESTIONS 1.  Was any restriction placed on the applicants’ freedom to leave the territory of the respondent State, as guaranteed by Article 2 § 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention? If so, was that restriction in accordance with the law and necessary in terms of Article 2 § 3 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention (see Mursaliyev and Others, nos. 66650/13 and 10 others, §§ 29‑36, 13 December 2018)?   2.  Were the restrictions imposed by the State in the present cases, purportedly pursuant to Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention, applied for a purpose other than those envisaged by that provision, contrary to Article 18 of the Convention (see Democracy and Human Rights Resource Centre and Mustafayev v. Azerbaijan, nos. 74288/14 and 64568/16, §§ 102‑111, 14 October 2021)? CASE SPECIFIC QUESTION IN RESPECT OF APPLICATIONS NOS. 31483/24, 31663/24, 31666/24, 35916/24, 1552/25, 15314/25, 24887/25 AND 26192/25 3.  Has there been an interference with the applicants’ freedom of expression within the meaning of Article 10 § 1 of the Convention? If so, was that interference prescribed by law and necessary in terms of Article 10 § 2 (see Ibrahimov and Mammadov v. Azerbaijan, nos. 63571/16 and 5 others, §§ 164-174, 13 February 2020)? CASE SPECIFIC QUESTION IN RESPECT OF APPLICATIONS NOS. 18839/24, 25876/24, 26697/24, 26700/24, 26721/24, 31659/24 AND 32798/24 4.  Did the applicants have at their disposal an effective domestic remedy for their complaints under Article 2 of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention, as required by Article 13 of the Convention (see Mursaliyev and Others, cited above, §§ 41-47)? CASE SPECIFIC QUESTION IN RESPECT OF APPLICATION NO. 18839/24 5.  Has there been an interference with the applicant’s right to respect for her private life, within the meaning of Article 8 § 1 of the Convention, as a result of the travel ban imposed on her? If so, was that interference in accordance with the law and necessary in terms of Article 8 § 2 (see Mursaliyev and Others, cited above, §§ 48-49)?     APPENDIX No. Application no. Case name Lodged on Applicant Year of Birth Place of Residence Nationality Represented by 1. 18839/24 Ismayilova v. Azerbaijan 17/07/2024 Khadija Rovshan gizi ISMAYILOVA 1976 Baku Azerbaijani Javad JAVADOV 2. 24731/24 Chiragov v. Azerbaijan 05/08/2024 Rasif Rasim oglu CHIRAGOV 1993 Baku Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 3. 25876/24 Kamilsoy v. Azerbaijan 03/09/2024 Narmin Intigam gizi KAMILSOY 1992 Baku Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 4. 26697/24 Ismayilov v. Azerbaijan 19/08/2024 Ahmad Nofal oglu ISMAYILOV 2000 Baku Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 5. 26700/24 Rustambayli v. Azerbaijan 17/08/2024 Murad Hikmat oglu RUSTAMBAYLI 1995 Khirdalan Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 6. 26721/24 Gahraman v. Azerbaijan 17/08/2024 Elgiz Jamal oglu GAHRAMAN 1986 Baku Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 7. 31483/24 Aslanova v. Azerbaijan 24/10/2024 Sahila Sadagat gizi ASLANOVA 1986 Baku Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 8. 31659/24 Hasanova v. Azerbaijan 24/10/2024 Narmin Fakhraddin gizi HASANOVA 1983 Baku Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 9. 31663/24 Yagublu v. Azerbaijan 24/10/2024 Naila Rahim gizi YAGUBLU 1966 Khirdalan Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 10. 31666/24 Alyarli v. Azerbaijan 24/10/2024 Minakhanim Najaf gizi ALYARLI 1994 Baku Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 11. 32798/24 Jafarova v. Azerbaijan 11/10/2024 Nigar Ilham gizi JAFAROVA 1998 Baku Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 12. 35916/24 Guliyev v. Azerbaijan 27/11/2024 Ilhamiz Mamed oglu GULIYEV 1982 Baku Azerbaijani Zibeyda SADIGOVA 13. 1552/25 Jafarov v. Azerbaijan 30/11/2024 Shahin Farizkhan oglu JAFAROV 1975 Baku Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 14. 15314/25 Valiyev v. Azerbaijan 24/04/2025 Togrul Seyran oglu VALIYEV 1991 Baku Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 15. 24887/25 Guliyeva v. Azerbaijan 27/07/2025 Ulviyya Alikishi gizi GULIYEVA 1993 Baku Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV 16. 26192/25 Sadigov v. Azerbaijan 02/08/2025 Vadil Niyamaddin oglu SADIGOV 1997 Shamakhi Azerbaijani Elchin SADIGOV