On June 10, defense lawyers for seven journalists detained in connection with the AbzasMedia corruption‐investigation outlet presented their closing arguments before Judge Rasim Sadıxov at the Baku Serious Crimes Court. They united in denouncing the sprawling indictment—running 27 volumes—as entirely fabricated, pointing to the complete absence of credible evidence. The trial was adjourned until June 20, when most defendants will deliver their final statements and the court may move toward a verdict.
Origins of the Case
November 20, 2023: Azerbaijan’s authorities launch a criminal investigation into AbzasMedia, a publication famed for probing official corruption. That day, director Ulvi Hasanli and coordinator Mahammad Kekalov are arrested; searches of their homes and the outlet’s office reportedly turn up €40,000, which Hasanli later asserts was planted by investigators.
In the following days, editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafiz Babalı are detained. In May 2024, Radio Azadliq journalist and economist Farid Mehralizade is also arrested and—despite AbzasMedia’s denial of any affiliation with him—sworn in as a defendant.
Charges & Potential Penalties
The seven face multiple counts under the Criminal Code, including:
Smuggling by an organized group (Arts. 206.3.2, 206.4)
Illegal entrepreneurship by an organized group (Art. 192.3.2)
Money laundering of large sums (Arts. 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2)
Tax evasion by an organized group (Art. 213.2.1)
Forgery and use of forged documents (Arts. 320.1, 320.2)
Conviction could bring sentences of 8–12 years in prison.
June 10 Proceedings: Defense Arguments
All defense counsel repeated the same core contentions:
No Credible Evidence whatsoever
“Not a single witness statement, piece of material evidence, or legal document exists against my client,” declared Cavad Cavadov, representing Farid Mehralizade.
The indictment—27 volumes in total—rests entirely on one testimony, that of Mahammad Kekalov, who in court has retracted his investigative statement, saying he gave it under threat.
Arbitrary Arrests
Kekalov’s lawyers emphasized: although the case is built on his testimony, Ulvi Hasanli was arrested before Kekalov himself was detained or questioned. “How could they base Hasanli’s arrest on a statement that did not yet exist?” they demanded.
Absence of Smuggled Goods or Illicit Assets
Despite initial smuggling charges, none of the defendants was caught with contraband at any border crossing. Nor was any illegal property found on their persons or in their homes.
Planting of Cash and Documents
The defense insists that the €40,000 and purportedly “forged” documents seized in the AbzasMedia office were fabricated by the authorities to bolster a baseless case.
Absurdity of Financial-crime Charges
“Crimes of personal gain imply assets—houses, cars, property—yet none of these individuals owns either,” the lawyers pointed out.
And even if AbzasMedia had received grants, that would only amount to an administrative violation, not a crime. Moreover, “media outlets are educational institutions, not commercial enterprises—so what illegal entrepreneurship?” they asked.
No Link to AbzasMedia
Mehralizade’s sole “evidence” of involvement: traveling at the same time as some AbzasMedia staff and using the Signal app. Cavadov quipped, “With such logic, you could charge anyone.”
Family Tragedy
The lawyer described Mehralizade’s arrest as “a personal drama”: detained just as he was preparing to become a father, an act he called “unforgivable from the standpoint of family values and basic humanity.”
Only Hafiz Babalı—economics editor at the Turan Information Agency—delivered his final words on June 10: likening the Kurdakhani detention center to “Azerbaijan’s Bastille,” he lamented, “Prisons have become places where the country’s valuable people are held hostage.”
Babalı also noted he’s been banned from travel since 2019, making currency-smuggling charges in this case nonsensical: “I haven’t left the country in six years—how could I be a smuggler?”
The remaining defendants will deliver their closing remarks on June 20, after which the court is expected to issue its verdict.
Rights Groups
Local and international NGOs label the arrests “politically motivated,” asserting they aim to punish journalists for anti-corruption reporting.
Diplomatic Pressure
The U.S. State Department and several Western diplomats in Baku have publicly called for the journalists’ release and the dismissal of all charges.
Government Position
Azerbaijani officials insist no political motivation exists behind the prosecutions.
With the next hearing scheduled for June 20, the AbzasMedia trial epitomizes the mounting legal pressure on independent journalists in Azerbaijan. A verdict imposing lengthy prison terms would not only seal the fate of seven reporters but could chill investigative journalism nationwide, undermining free expression and the fight against corruption.