Azerbaijani Citizens Released After Separate Detentions in Iran

In separate incidents, Azerbaijani citizens recently detained in Iran have been released and have returned to their homeland. This includes a group of approximately 50 bus passengers held briefly at customs and two individuals, Vusal Guliyev and Rovshan Seyidov, who had been imprisoned for five months.

On July 19, around 50 Azerbaijani passengers traveling by bus from Baku to Nakhchivan via Iran were detained at Iranian customs. According to reports from APA and "Gundelik Nakhchivan," the passengers were held overnight and instructed not to stray more than 1 kilometer from a nearby mosque where they were sent.

Passengers described harsh conditions, claiming they were not provided with food or water. One anonymous passenger expressed their distress to "Gundelik Nakhchivan," stating, "If they weren't going to let us through, why did they allow us to cross customs? Now they're holding us here like prisoners, like hostages. We can neither return to Bilasuvar nor go to Julfa customs." The Iranian side reportedly demanded an official letter from Azerbaijan to Tehran before allowing the buses to proceed and allegedly threatened passengers against publicizing their detention.

However, by July 20, all detained passengers were released, and the buses resumed their journey, reaching Nakhchivan. APA reported that Iran had sent an information request to Azerbaijan regarding the three buses, and the necessary details were subsequently provided.

Separately, Vusal Guliyev and Rovshan Seyidov, residents of the Sharur district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, were also released after five months of detention in Iran. They had been arrested on March 21, 2025, shortly after crossing into Iran from Turkey's Doğubayazıt region, according to APA.

Initially held in Poldasht, Guliyev and Seyidov were later transferred to Maku, where they were kept in a dungeon by Iranian security forces. In July, they were brought to Khoy for trial. The court sentenced Vusal Guliyev to 4 months and Rovshan Seyidov to 6 months in prison. Despite Vusal Guliyev's 4-month sentence having concluded, both individuals were reportedly re-arrested by Iranian security forces after the court hearing before their eventual release. They have since returned to Azerbaijan.

These incidents highlight the complexities of cross-border travel between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan via Iran. Bus services on this route had continued even when land borders were generally closed. However, these services were temporarily suspended in June for security reasons, amidst the conflict between Israel and Iran. The recent detentions and releases underscore the sensitive nature of transit through the region.