Baku – July 16 — Ilgar Ismailov, the founder and former owner of the well-known Azerbaijani retail chain Ideal (renamed Adore), has been released early from prison following a ruling by the Baku Court of Appeals.
According to Qafqazinfo, the court took into account that Ismailov had served more than half of his six-year sentence and received a favorable assessment from the correctional facility. Judge Ibrahim Ibrahimli ordered the remainder of the sentence to be suspended, granting the businessman early release.
Ismailov was arrested in April 2021 on charges of embezzlement. However, his case has sparked widespread criticism and allegations of political and corporate pressure.
Critics argue that the charges were part of a larger effort to forcibly seize control of the Ideal retail chain, one of Azerbaijan’s largest at the time. Several prominent voices in business and media have claimed that Ismailov was imprisoned after refusing to hand over his business voluntarily, raising concerns over property rights and judicial independence in the country.
Despite the controversy, the Adore brand has continued operations under new management since Ismailov’s arrest. The businessman’s early release is likely to renew debate over the circumstances of his conviction and the broader climate for entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan.
