AZE.US
Most of those detained received between eight and 30 days of administrative arrest over profanity, insults and content deemed offensive to public morality.
Azerbaijani courts arrested at least 19 TikTok users over a three-month period for content posted on the social media platform, according to an AZE.US review of local media reports.
The cases, reported between May 1 and August 1, 2026, involved livestreams, videos and comments that authorities described as obscene, insulting or disrespectful toward society and religious beliefs.
The count includes only cases in which courts ordered administrative detention. Users who were fined, questioned or released without arrest were not included.
Because Azerbaijan does not maintain a publicly accessible database of such cases, the actual number may be higher.
Five Arrests Reported in May
The first major group of arrests was reported in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave on May 6.
Two men were sentenced to 25 days and 10 days of administrative arrest after taking part in TikTok livestreams that allegedly included profanity and conduct described as contrary to public morality.
Two other participants were fined.
On May 11, three young men in the Shamkir district were each sentenced to 15 days in administrative detention after broadcasting a TikTok livestream from inside a car.
Authorities said the men used obscene language during the broadcast. The defendants reportedly told the court that they did not realize the livestream was still active and believed the microphone had been switched off.
At Least Five More Arrested in June
Several additional arrests were reported in June.
In Nakhchivan, one man received 30 days of administrative detention for using profanity during a livestream. Another TikTok user was arrested after insulting viewers during an online broadcast, although local media did not disclose the length of his sentence.
On June 24, police in Nakhchivan’s Sharur district detained four people – two men and two women – over TikTok broadcasts.
The two men were sentenced to eight days of administrative arrest each. The women were fined 500 manats, equivalent to about $294.
Authorities accused the group of using obscene language and publishing content that violated accepted standards of public behavior.
One of the most unusual cases involved a taxi driver in Baku.
According to a copy of the court ruling cited by local media, the driver was sentenced to 15 days in administrative detention over a TikTok comment criticizing Azerbaijan’s Land Transport Agency, known as AYNA.
The ruling said the comment also contained language considered unethical. It was the only identified case during the three-month period involving a written comment rather than a video or livestream.
Main Wave Came in Late July
Most of the arrests were reported during the final days of July.
On July 25, police in Nakhchivan detained four TikTok users over videos containing profanity. One was sentenced to 12 days in administrative detention, while the other three were fined.
Several bloggers and active TikTok users were arrested in the following days.
Magsad Bagirov, known online as Chevik, received 10 days of administrative detention over statements authorities said insulted religious beliefs and violated public morality.
Another user, Uzeyir Abbas, was also arrested over content described as offensive to religious people, although the length of his detention was not disclosed.
Sakina Ahmadova and Muzhgan Mammadzade each received 10 days of administrative arrest over content characterized by authorities as unethical and disrespectful toward society.
A 21-year-old user named Elgun Mammadov was sentenced to 10 days for using profanity during a livestream.
Blogger Murad Gasimov, known as Murad Sade, received one of the longest sentences – 30 days of administrative detention. Authorities accused him of repeatedly broadcasting unethical content and showing open disrespect toward society.
On July 31, another man was sentenced to 15 days after insulting a woman during a TikTok livestream.
According to court materials cited by local media, the dispute involved 400 manats, or about $235, that had reportedly been provided for dental treatment.
On August 1, a 36-year-old man was sentenced to eight days in administrative detention over a video containing profanity.
Local media identified him under the pseudonym Bayram Hasanov. His real name and TikTok account were not disclosed.
What Were the Users Charged With?
Most of the cases were prosecuted under Article 510.2 of Azerbaijan’s Code of Administrative Offenses.
The provision is commonly applied to actions distributed online that authorities classify as petty hooliganism, including obscene language, indecent gestures, offensive conduct and open disrespect toward society.
In some cases, courts also referred to restrictions on online information prohibited by law.
The most frequently cited reasons for the arrests included:
- profanity during livestreams;
- insulting viewers or other individuals;
- videos deemed contrary to public morality;
- statements considered offensive to religious beliefs;
- behavior described as showing open disrespect toward society;
- and, in one case, a critical comment about a government transport agency.
Administrative detention terms generally ranged from eight to 30 days. In similar cases, courts imposed fines of between 500 and 1,000 manats, or approximately $294 to $588.
Criminal Case Against TikTok Blogger Not Included
The count does not include the case of TikTok personality Ilduz Hajiyeva, known online as Arzum 9999.
In July, a court sentenced Hajiyeva to five years and two months in prison over a fatal traffic accident and ordered her detention in the courtroom.
Her conviction was unrelated to her TikTok activity and was therefore excluded from the total.
Based on publicly available reports, at least 19 people were arrested in Azerbaijan between May 1 and August 1 over activity directly linked to TikTok.
The number reflects only cases reported by the media and confirmed as resulting in administrative detention.
AZE.US