Yurush Mehralibaglu, one of prominent leaders of the South Azerbaijani National Movement, has been sentenced to an additional 3 years and 7 months in prison in a new conviction while serving his sentence at Tabriz Central Prison.

He was charged in this case with “inciting the people to war” and “calling for street protests against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The court also sentenced him to 7 months and 16 days in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the system,” and to 3 years and 1 day in prison on the charge of “inciting the people to protests, war, and bloodshed.”

Yurush Mehralibaglu was arrested by security forces of occupying regime of iran in Tabriz on Monday, January 5, 2026. Following his arrest, he was interrogated for more than three months in solitary confinement at the detention facility of the Tabriz Intelligence Department. He was subsequently transferred to Tabriz Central Prison. Since his transfer to the prison, he has remained detained in the prison’s special ward.

The Azerbaijani activist had previously been sentenced by the Tabriz Revolutionary Court in a case known as the “Democrats” case to a total of 9 years and 9 months in prison on charges of “establishing the Democrats group” and “assembly and collusion against the national security of the country.”

With the issuance of the new sentence, Y. Mehrəlibəyli’s total prison term has reached 13 years and 4 months.

Previously, Yurush Mehralibaglu served an eight-year prison sentence alongside Dr. Latif Hasani and others for establishing what Iranian authorities described as an “illegal group,” namely, Yeni GAMOH (New South Azerbaijani National Awakening Movement).