Data indicates there are 328 political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Omissions

• The figure of 328 originates from a single Azerbaijani NGO (Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan) and its national list dated 13 May 2026; it is not an official Azerbaijani state statistic.
• Other independent counts differ substantially: OBCT cited 357 political prisoners (list updated February 2025), Demand Rights at COP cited more than 375 (July 2025), and a European Parliament delegation statement and JFJ referenced 'almost 400' (2025). The claim presents one NGO's lower-end figure without noting these higher competing estimates.
• A later list published by the same organisation (October 2026) reportedly contained 322 names, indicating the count is fluid and updated periodically.

Sources

• PrimaryInstitute for Peace and Democracy (IPD) — List of Political PrisonersCurrent list, on 13 May 2026, includes all arrested and convicted on political motives, about whom it was possible to collect detailed [information].
• SecondaryParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe — Doc. 16414 (Report)According to the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan, a non-governmental organisation, as of May 2026, there were 328 political prisoners.
• SecondaryCaucasian Knot (eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu)on May 13, the Union "For the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Azerbaijan" included 328 people in the updated [list].
• SecondarySova News"According to reports by independent organisations, there are at least 328 political prisoners in the country," the statement read.
• SecondaryHuman Rights House FoundationThere are 328 political prisoners in the country; independent [organisations report...]
• SecondaryEuropean Parliament Delegation joint statement...the staggering number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan which has grown rapidly to almost 400 over [the past years].