Idrak Abbasov

Idrak Abbasov (born c. 1976) is an Azerbaijani journalist who works for the newspaper Zerkalo, one of Azerbaijan's few newspapers not controlled by the government of President Ilham Aliyev. The Guardian described him as one of the nation's "leading journalists". He lives in Sulutəpə, a settlement in Baku, the nation's capital.

SOCAR reporting In 2011, Abbasov began reporting on protests against SOCAR, the state oil company, by Sulutəpə citizens whose homes were being demolished by the company. After he began his reporting, security personnel for the company sent a digger to destroy his father's home, damaging the roof and walls. In his acceptance speech, Abbasov acknowledged other Azerbaijani journalists at risk, saying: "This is the price that my colleagues in Azerbaijan are paying for the right of the Azerbaijani people to know the truth about what is happening in their country. For the sake of this right we accept that our lives are in danger, as are the lives of our families. But the goal is worth it, since the right to truth is worth more than a life without truth." Abbasov was hospitalized with two broken ribs, a concussion, severe damage to one eye, and damage to his internal organs.

The attack drew international attention. On 24 May, the European Parliament passed a resolution in support of Abbasov and another journalist, Khadija Ismaylova, who reportedly was being threatened for her reporting. The resolution called on the Azerbaijani government for an "immediate stop to all actions aimed at suppressing the freedom of expression and assembly". Human Rights Watch named the case as part of "Azerbaijan’s appalling record on freedom of expression", Amnesty International condemned that "journalists in the process of exposing human rights abuses are themselves coming under attack by state officials bent on preventing them from reporting the truth", and called for the case to be "thoroughly and impartially investigated". The Wall Street Journal, CBC News, and BBC News connected the case with the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, stating that the spotlight it had brought to Azerbaijan, the contest's host, had done little to help the nation's activists. Abbasov himself commented, "I can't imagine what they will do to us after Eurovision. There are not so many of us."