Baku, Azerbaijan – Farid Ismayilov, a journalist currently imprisoned as part of the ongoing “Toplum TV case,” has voiced strong protests against his repeated transportation to and from court, citing a significant deterioration in his health and alleged inhumane treatment in detention. His concerns were directly conveyed to the judge during a hearing at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes on June 23.
Ismayilov’s protest underscores mounting health challenges for journalists and activists detained in Azerbaijan. Arrested on March 6 last year in connection with the “Toplum TV case,” Ismayilov was initially placed under police supervision. However, on January 17 this year, the Khatai District Court changed that decision, ordering his arrest. He was originally charged with smuggling under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, but these charges were later intensified. Ismayilov, along with others implicated in the case, vehemently denies the accusations, asserting that their arrests are politically motivated.
During the recent hearing, Ismayilov explicitly asked Judge Azer Tagiyev to read his verdict early. “If our fate will be like that of the ‘Abzas people,’ then read my verdict now, so I don’t have to keep coming and going here,” he stated, referencing the recent harsh sentences handed down to journalists in the “AbzasMedia case,” where seven journalists received prison terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years.
Relatives of Farid Ismayilov have shared details of his alarming health condition. They report that he suffers from low blood sugar, which is exacerbated by not receiving food in the mornings before court sessions. This leads to severe headaches and blurred vision. Furthermore, he experiences chronic migraines. His family claims that while he receives intravenous medical treatment in the Baku Pre-trial Detention Center, it is administered negligently: “They don’t take Farid to the medical room for intravenous treatment; they simply pull his arm out of the ‘accordion’ (cell vent) and administer it that way,” his relatives told Abzas Media, adding that they have sent food supplements and medications to the facility for him.
Official responses from the Penitentiary Service and other state bodies regarding these specific allegations have not been forthcoming. However, Azerbaijani authorities consistently maintain that individuals in detention are treated within the bounds of the law, and that no one is prosecuted for their professional or political activities, asserting that all rights and freedoms are guaranteed in the country.
The “Toplum TV case” involves a total of 10 individuals facing criminal charges. Those currently in custody include Toplum TV co-founder Alesker Mammadli, journalists Mushfig Jabbar and Farid Ismayilov, Akif Gurbanov (head of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives and speaker for the III Republic Platform), Ruslan Izzatli (founding member of the III Republic Platform), and Institute of Democratic Initiatives employees Ali Zeynal, Ramil Babayev, and Ilkin Amrahov. Journalist Elmir Abbasov is under police supervision, while Toplum TV editor Shahnaz Beylergizi was initially under house arrest before being placed under police supervision.
“Toplum TV” has publicly stated that the actions against them are linked to their professional work and constitute an attack on independent media. In response to the escalating pressure, the media organization announced in February 2024 its decision to continue operations through journalists based outside Azerbaijan. Many local and international human rights organizations have classified those arrested in these cases as political prisoners, urging the Azerbaijani authorities to release them immediately. According to lists compiled by local human rights organizations, there are now over 370 political prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons.