Curious about life on Çilov island, Caspian Sea

Hi everyone,

I often explore random places on Google Maps, and the Caucasus has interested me for a long time. Today I noticed something I hadn’t realized before: not all of the islands in the Caspian Sea are uninhabited. I had assumed most were empty, maybe just oil platforms, and didn’t think there were people living there.

One island that caught my attention is Çilov. It seems interesting to imagine a small insular community living a few kilometers from the mainland, where basically all people know each other. I don’t see any land bridges, so I assume residents don’t travel to the mainland regularly.

Do you know anyone who has lived there or still lives there? What’s life like on a small Caspian island? I understand that life there is probably just normal everyday life, like fishing, working in the oil industry, or other jobs, but I thought it would be interesting to ask locals.

Thanks for any insights!