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.

Human Rights Experts Address Crisis of Political Imprisonment and Civil Society Suppression in Azerbaijan

My Spiritual Torture

Lawyer Rovshane Rahimli: “Nargiz Absalamova was engaged in organized journalism”

Stop Weaponizing the Courts! IRFS Calls for European Action on Georgia’s Civil Society Repression

IRFS - Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety

Human Rights Experts Address Crisis of Political Imprisonment and Civil Society Suppression in Azerbaijan

https://youtu.be/E5acRd-gCfo?si=WzZZJ_VQMiJsiRuL GENEVA, Switzerland– June 20, 2025 – The Institute for Human Rights (IHR) and The Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS) hosted a critical dialogue on the escalating global crisis of political imprisonment and systematic suppression of civil society organizations...

My Spiritual Torture

Aynur Elgunesh, editor-in-chief of Meydan TV who is in detention, writes from Kurdakhani Detention Center: "Human rights defenders should take note. Azerbaijan is a strange country. Here, a child is a source of security, an heir, a being who will carry you...

Lawyer Rovshane Rahimli: “Nargiz Absalamova was engaged in organized journalism”

According to the lawyer, the majority of the presented evidence is based on statements given under pressure. On June 10, the lawyers of those arrested in the "Abzas Media case" made their final statements in court. In the court session chaired by...

Laser light on the parliament building marks the 100th day of non-stop protests in Georgia, March 7, 2025; Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge

Stop Weaponizing the Courts! IRFS Calls for European Action on Georgia’s Civil Society Repression

Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge The IRFS calls on the European Institutions and the Council of Europe to demand from the Georgian authorities a stop to use of the court powers in a bid to suppress activities by critical civil society organisations, including...

Freedom of Spech Under Threat: Voices of Exiled Jouralists from Post-Soviet States

The Institute for Reporters' Freedom and Safety, together with its partners, is organizing an official side event during the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council: Freedom of Speech Under Threat: Voices of Exiled Journalists from Post-Soviet States 📅 Date...

Imprisoned Journalist Polad Aslanov Reveals Overcrowded Cells and Medical Neglect During Ombudsman Prison Visit

Imprisoned journalist Polad Aslanov has exposed shocking conditions at Azerbaijan's Penitentiary Institution No. 15 during a recent visit by representatives from the Ombudsman's Office, revealing overcrowded cells where prisoners sleep on floors and systematic denial of medical care. The meetings, which...

‘Exposing Illegalities Became the Crime’: Lawyers Denounce Abzas Media Trials as Politically Driven

Since November 2023, six employees of Abzas Media—a Baku‑based outlet renowned for its corruption investigations—along with two allied journalists, have been held on charges ranging from smuggling and illegal entrepreneurship to document forgery. arrested were: Ulvi Hasanli, director Muhammad Kekalov, deputy director Sevinc Vaqifqizi, chief editor Nargiz Absalamova and...

Legal Harassment of Independent Journalists: Latest in Azerbaijan’s AbzasMedia Case

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...

Crackdown Intensifies: Azerbaijani Authorities Press New Charges in “Meclis.info” and Abzas Media Cases

On June 10, Azerbaijani courts advanced the legal proceedings against Imran Aliyev and Elgiz Gahraman in the “Meclis.info” case, raising broader concerns over the state’s ongoing efforts to suppress independent media. These developments coincide with harsh sentences requested in the related...

Imprisoned Activist Faces Retaliation After Open Letter Exposing Prison Conditions

Ali Zeynal’s family fears he is being pressured after criticizing Kurdakhani detention center in a letter to Justice Minister Ali Zeynal, the coordinator of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and one of several detainees in the ongoing “Toplum TV case,” is...

Conditions and Alleged Mismanagement at Baku Pretrial Detention Facility, as Exposed by Political Prisoner Ali Zeynal

Ali Zeynal, an employee of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives who is currently detained in connection with the “Toplum TV case,” has published an open letter addressed to Minister of Justice Farid Ahmadov. The letter, released by Toplum TV, provides...

Formula and TV Pirveli logos; source: Formula and TV Pirveli Facebook pages

Georgia’s Ruling Party Escalates Legal Clampdown on Opposition TV Channels

Tbilisi, June 3, 2025 — The ruling Georgian Dream party has initiated formal complaints with the National Communications Commission against three major opposition-leaning television stations—Formula, TV Pirveli, and Mtavari—alleging that journalists and anchors used “anti-government” terminology in violation of recent...

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Human Rights Experts Address Crisis of Political Imprisonment and Civil Society Suppression in Azerbaijan

My Spiritual Torture

Lawyer Rovshane Rahimli: “Nargiz Absalamova was engaged in organized journalism”

Stop Weaponizing the Courts! IRFS Calls for European Action on Georgia’s Civil Society Repression

Freedom of Spech Under Threat: Voices of Exiled Jouralists from Post-Soviet States

Imprisoned Journalist Polad Aslanov Reveals Overcrowded Cells and Medical Neglect During Ombudsman Prison Visit

‘Exposing Illegalities Became the Crime’: Lawyers Denounce Abzas Media Trials as Politically Driven

Legal Harassment of Independent Journalists: Latest in Azerbaijan’s AbzasMedia Case

Crackdown Intensifies: Azerbaijani Authorities Press New Charges in “Meclis.info” and Abzas Media Cases

Imprisoned Activist Faces Retaliation After Open Letter Exposing Prison Conditions

Conditions and Alleged Mismanagement at Baku Pretrial Detention Facility, as Exposed by Political Prisoner Ali Zeynal

Georgia’s Ruling Party Escalates Legal Clampdown on Opposition TV Channels

Court Continues Reading Indictment in Toplum TV Case Amid Growing Press-Freedom Concerns

On June 2, 2025, the Baku Serious Crimes Court resumed reading key sections of the indictment against several journalists and activists linked to Toplum TV, underscoring the Azerbaijani government’s sustained legal pressure on independent media outlets. Presided over by Judge...

Baku TV Propaganda Report Falsely Accuses Ulviyya Ali of Smuggling

Why This Propaganda Demands Scrutiny Across authoritarian contexts, propaganda functions as a powerful tool to manufacture consent, confuse public opinion, and obscure state abuses. In Azerbaijan’s “Meydan TV case,” independent journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) has become the target of precisely such...

Despite Admitting to the Facts, Eduard Lintner Denies It Was Bribery: Inside the ‘Azerbaijan Laundromat’ Trial

Former German Bundestag member Eduard Lintner stood before the Munich Higher Regional Court and acknowledged that he received substantial payments from the Azerbaijani government—but insisted that “in my opinion, this does not constitute bribery.” The case is part of the...

Azerbaijan’s Opposition Leader Ruslan Izzatli Conscripted Despite Health Diagnosis

Lead/IntroductionOn May 25, 2020, Ruslan Izzatli, chairman of the D18 Movement, was abruptly conscripted into military service—despite four separate medical evaluations certifying him unfit. His allies say this forced mobilization is the latest example of legal harassment against independent voices...

Systematic Legal Harassment of AXCP Chairman Ali Karimli and His Inner Circle

Lead / IntroductionOver the past year, Azerbaijan’s Popular Front Party (AXCP) chairman, Ali Karimli, has faced a series of escalating defamation charges and fines—while multiple volunteer drivers, bodyguards, and party activists have simultaneously been arrested, detained, or charged under administrative...

AbzasMedia Case: Journalist Detained for Exposing Government Propaganda

One year after his arrest on May 30, 2024, economist-journalist Farid Mehralizade remains detained on politically charged smuggling and related accusations. While state prosecutors seek up to 12 years in prison and confiscation of his car, Mehralizade spends each day...

“I Refuse to Be Silenced”: Journalist Farid Mehralizade Speaks Out from Prison

In a series of poignant letters smuggled out of prison, journalist Farid Mehralizade paints a grim picture of life behind bars and the escalating pressure he faces for refusing to testify against his colleagues at Abzas Media. Mehralizade, arrested in...

“Abzas Media” Awarded Special Prize by the European Press Prize

In recognition of its courage under repression and its role in an unprecedented international collaboration, Abzas Media has been honored with the European Press Prize’s Special Award for its contribution to The Baku Connection consortium. Building on Silenced VoicesCoordinated by the...

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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

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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