News

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety

04/01 2022

Azerbaijan ranks fifth in non-execution of ECHR decisions

03/29 2022

Politically motivated persecutions in Azerbaijan have not abated – Amnesty International

IRFS: The murder of Elmar Huseynov became the beginning of destroying the freedom of expression in Azerbaijan, which has to be prevented

The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) appeal to the authorities of Azerbaijan with demand to solve the murder of journalist Elmar Huseynov and punish both the ones that ordered and executed the shocking crime committed 17 years ago – on March 2 2005. IRFS deem that one of the major critics of the present authorities, editor-in-chief of a popular independent publisher ‘Monitor’, killed with shots at door of his house, became the most symbolic victim of the independent journalism of Azerbaijan.

Journalists Imprisoned Speak Out: “Let the Next Generation Know What We Endured”

Investigation Phase of the “AbzasMedia Case” Concludes

“We Are Targeted Because We Are Not the Regime’s Scribes” — Editor-in-Chief Aynur Elgunesh Speaks Out from Prison

Relatives of Elvin Mustafayev Concerned After 8 Days Without News

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety

Shamshad Agha and Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva). Image generated by ChatGPT

Journalists Imprisoned Speak Out: “Let the Next Generation Know What We Endured”

Image generated by ChatGPT Two journalists held in connection with the “Meydan TV case” — Shamshad Agha, editor-in-chief of Arqument.az, and Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), a contributor to Voice of America — continue to speak from prison, highlighting what they describe as...

Investigation Phase of the “AbzasMedia Case” Concludes

On May 16, a hearing was held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes regarding the “AbzasMedia case.” During the session, presided over by Judge Rasim Sadigov, video footage recorded by the investigative team during the search of the organization’s...

“We Are Targeted Because We Are Not the Regime’s Scribes” — Editor-in-Chief Aynur Elgunesh Speaks Out from Prison

On May 15, 2025, Meydan TV marked its 12th anniversary amid an ongoing crackdown on its staff and affiliates. From prison, the outlet’s editor-in-chief Aynur Elgunesh (Gambarova) addressed a public letter denouncing what she describes as a fabricated criminal case...

Relatives of Elvin Mustafayev Concerned After 8 Days Without News

Relatives and colleagues of Elvin Mustafayev, a detained member of the “Workers’ Table” Confederation of Trade Unions, say they have not received any information about him for more than a week. On May 14, the “Workers’ Table” issued a statement reporting...

Teymur Karimov’s Prison Sentence Reduced by One Year

On May 15, 2025, the Baku Court of Appeal partially granted the petition submitted by the lawyer of Teymur Karimov, head of the internet television channel Kanal11. As a result, Karimov’s prison sentence was reduced from 8 years to 7...

“Abzas Media Case”: Kekalov Retracts Statement, Says He Was Forced to Sign Documents

On May 13, 2025, a new hearing was held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes regarding the “Abzas Media case.” The session was chaired by Judge Rasim Sadikhov, and during the proceedings, all case documents were formally acknowledged as...

Haji Valiyev Taken to Psychiatric Hospital During Detention

Haji Valiyev, a participant in the Second Karabakh War and the imprisoned chairman of the “Young Veterans” Public Union, has been taken to Republican Psychiatric Hospital No. 1 for a medical examination. According to a statement posted on the public union’s...

Aytaj Tapdig: “Ulviya Ali Suffers from Severe Headaches Due to Injuries Sustained During Arrest”

Aytaj Tapdig, a detained journalist affiliated with Meydan TV, has reported that fellow journalist Ulviya Ali (Guliyeva), who was also arrested as part of the “Meydan TV case,” is experiencing serious health issues following her detention. Tapdig, in a letter...

Tofiq Yaqublu Ends 40-Day Hunger Strike in Prison Protest Against 9-Year Sentence

+++ Tofiq Yaqublu—a detained member of both the Musavat Party and the National Council—has reportedly ended his 40-day hunger strike, which he launched to protest his imprisonment. His daughter, Nigar Həzi, announced the news on her Facebook page. She recounted meeting her father...

Human Rights Defender Bashir Suleymanli’s Complaint About Detention Conditions Resolved

Imprisoned human rights defender Bashir Suleymanli, head of the Institute for Civil Rights, reported that his concerns regarding detention conditions have been addressed. On May 9, he informed his relatives that the issue he had previously raised had been resolved. Earlier,...

Public Activist and Media Founder Ahmad Mammadli Sentenced to Four Months in Pretrial Detention

On May 8, 2025, the Binagadi District Court imposed a four-month pretrial detention measure on public activist and founder of Yoldash Media, Ahmad Mammadli. He is being prosecuted under Articles 126.2.4 (deliberately inflicting serious harm to health) and 221.3 (hooliganism...

Shrinking Media Freedom in South Caucasus and Central Asia

On 6 May the IRFS and the Media Diversity Institute Global held a discussion on the shrinking media freedom in South Caucasus and Central Asia. The event took place on the margins of the World Press Freedom Day 2025 in...

Load more Loading...

04/01 2022

Azerbaijan ranks fifth in non-execution of ECHR decisions

Azerbaijan ranks fifth among the member countries of the Council of Europe in terms of non-execution of decisions of the

03/29 2022

Politically motivated persecutions in Azerbaijan have not abated – Amnesty International

Amnesty International published its annual report on the world human rights situation on March 29. The part concerning Azerbaijan indicates

Tweets by TwitterDev

Journalists Imprisoned Speak Out: “Let the Next Generation Know What We Endured”

Investigation Phase of the “AbzasMedia Case” Concludes

“We Are Targeted Because We Are Not the Regime’s Scribes” — Editor-in-Chief Aynur Elgunesh Speaks Out from Prison

Relatives of Elvin Mustafayev Concerned After 8 Days Without News

Teymur Karimov’s Prison Sentence Reduced by One Year

“Abzas Media Case”: Kekalov Retracts Statement, Says He Was Forced to Sign Documents

Haji Valiyev Taken to Psychiatric Hospital During Detention

Aytaj Tapdig: “Ulviya Ali Suffers from Severe Headaches Due to Injuries Sustained During Arrest”

Tofiq Yaqublu Ends 40-Day Hunger Strike in Prison Protest Against 9-Year Sentence

Human Rights Defender Bashir Suleymanli’s Complaint About Detention Conditions Resolved

Public Activist and Media Founder Ahmad Mammadli Sentenced to Four Months in Pretrial Detention

Shrinking Media Freedom in South Caucasus and Central Asia

The preliminary investigation of Rufat Safarov has been completed

Human-rights defender and executive director of the "Defense Line" human-rights organization, Rufat Safarov's preliminary investigation has been completed. According to a report, Rufat Safarov and his defense team are currently reviewing the criminal case. Rufat Safarov’s criminal case will be sent to...

Public Activist Ahmad Mammadli Detained and Accused of Intentional Harm

On the evening of May 6, 2025, public and political activist Ahmad Mammadli was detained by officers from the Binagadi District Police Department. According to reports from his relatives and fellow activists, Mammadli was subjected to violence during his detention...

Azerbaijani journalist Ulviya Ali detained in Meydan TV case

Journalist Ulviya Ali (Huseynova) was detained last night in Azerbaijan. She became the 11th journalist detained in the "Meydan TV case". Journalists from other media outlets, including Abzas Media, Toplum TV and Kanal-13, have also been persecuted in Azerbaijan. You can...

Court Upholds Detention of Tofig Yagublu Amid 36-Day Hunger Strike

On May 6, the Baku Court of Appeal held a hearing on the appeal of opposition politician Tofig Yagublu, who was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Yagublu, a member of the Musavat Party and the National Council, has been...

Azerbaijan Escalates Charges in Toplum TV Case While Ignoring Defense Petitions

On May 5, the preparatory hearing for the “Toplum TV case” continued. During the process held under the chairmanship of Judge Azer Tagiyev at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, the lawyers made requests to not extend the detention periods of the...

Tofiq Yaqublu’s Health Deteriorates After 35-Day Hunger Strike Ahead of May 6 Appeal Hearing

Tofiq Yaqublu, a member of the Musavat Party and the National Council, and one of the Azerbaijani government’s most vocal critics, has been on a hunger strike for 35 days in protest of his imprisonment. His health has significantly deteriorated,...

The case of Azerbaijani oppositionists Askerov and Mirzoyev has reached court

The trial of Zaur Askerov and Gunduz Mirzoyev, accused of openly calling for a violent change in the constitutional order in Azerbaijan, the murder of officials, civil war and other criminal actions, has begun, the Report publication reported today. The personal...

Prosecutor Requests 19-Year Sentence for Ethnic Researcher Iqbal Abilov

A 19-year prison sentence has been requested for Iqbal Abilov, editor-in-chief of the journal Talysh National Academy News and one of the founders of the Talysh National Academy registered in Latvia. The proposal was made by the prosecutor on May...

Load more Loading...

NEWS

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety​

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety​

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety​

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety