BAKU, Azerbaijan – Azerbaijani authorities have delivered severe prison sentences to journalists from the independent outlet “Abzas Media” and a prominent peace activist, a move strongly condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) as a systematic effort to eradicate remaining free media in the country. The judgments, handed down in mid-June, highlight escalating concerns over press freedom and human rights in Azerbaijan.
The “Abzas Media case” centers on an independent media platform known for its investigative reporting into corruption. The latest sentences follow a troubling trend of increasing pressure on independent journalism in Azerbaijan. Similarly, peace activist and columnist Bahruz Samadov faced charges of treason, drawing international attention to the broader suppression of dissent.
Recent Verdicts and Sentences
On June 20, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes issued lengthy prison terms to six “Abzas Media” employees on charges including currency smuggling, money laundering, and tax evasion. The sentences are as follows:
Ulvi Hasanli (Director) and Sevinj Vagifgizi (Editor-in-Chief), along with investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, each received 9 years in prison.
Reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were sentenced to 8 years each.
Project coordinator Mahammad Kekalov received 7 years and 6 months.
Additionally, Farid Mehralizade, a journalist and economist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was also sentenced to 9 years in prison in connection with the same case.
Separately, on June 23, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced peace activist and columnist Bahruz Samadov to 15 years on treason charges. Disturbingly, prior to his trial, Samadov reportedly attempted suicide in detention after announcing a hunger strike.
International Condemnation and Reactions
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) immediately condemned these verdicts. Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia Program Director, stated:
“These harsh sentences against seven journalists in the ‘Abzas Media case’ and columnist Bahruz Samadov clearly show the Azerbaijani authorities’ intent to destroy the remaining free media in the country. Samadov’s suicide attempt is of particular concern. The authorities must ensure his well-being and immediately release all unjustly imprisoned journalists.”
“Abzas Media” has described the charges against its staff as “absurd and fabricated,” asserting that their only “guilt” was exposing corruption and abuse of power. RFE/RL characterized Mehralizade’s sentence as “staged” and “unnecessarily cruel.”
Broader Context of Suppression
The CPJ reports that since late 2023, at least 20 journalists in Azerbaijan have been arrested, primarily on charges related to receiving foreign donor funds. This crackdown coincides with deteriorating relations between Azerbaijan and Western countries and a general rise in authoritarianism within the nation. Despite Azerbaijani law stipulating that violations concerning foreign grant registration should only incur administrative fines, authorities are systematically denying foreign funding to NGOs and independent media, instead resorting to repressive criminal charges.
Azerbaijan has been identified by the CPJ as one of the countries with the highest number of imprisoned journalists globally, with at least 13 journalists in custody as of December 1, 2024. The crackdown extends beyond “Abzas Media,” as five employees of “Toplum TV” and ten from “Meydan TV” currently face similar charges.
The severe sentences handed down to the “Abzas Media” journalists and Bahruz Samadov underscore a grave regression in press freedom and human rights in Azerbaijan. International organizations continue to call for the immediate release of all unjustly detained journalists and activists, emphasizing that such repressive tactics aim to silence critical voices and eliminate independent reporting in the country.