Abzas Media journalists sentenced in a politically motivated trial
Today, June 20, Azerbaijan’s Baku Court on Grave Crimes sentenced seven journalists in the Abzas Media case to a total of 59,5 years in prison, marking a devastating new chapter in the government’s repression of independent journalism.
The verdict follows a deeply flawed trial process that began on 17 December 2024, marred by procedural violations, allegations of ill-treatment in pre-trial detention, and the court’s refusal to investigate credible claims of abuse or politically motivated charges.
Those sentenced include:
Ulvi Hasanli, Director – 9 years
Sevinc Vagifgizi, Editor-in-Chief – 9 years
Mahammad Kekalov, Deputy Director – 7,5 years
Hafiz Babali, Investigative Journalist – 9 years
Nargiz Absalamova, Reporter – 8 years
Elnara Gasimova, Reporter – 8 years
Farid Mehralizade, Economist & Journalist (Radio Liberty) – 9 years
The journalists had been in detention since November 2023, following their corruption investigations targeting high-level Azerbaijani officials. Authorities accused them of economic crimes including smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, and money laundering — charges the journalists have consistently denied as politically motivated.
Throughout the trial, journalists were repeatedly denied due process and subjected to degrading detention conditions, multiple court hearings were boycotted by the defendants in protest of ill-treatment, witnesses testified in favor of the journalists, with at least one retracting a previous statement. Additionally, no credible evidence was presented to substantiate the state’s allegations.
Despite this, the court sided with the prosecution, which in May requested prison terms ranging from 11 to 12 years, as well as fines, asset seizures, and punitive compensation claims.
Free Voices Collective unequivocally condemns this ruling and views it as an attack on press freedom. We demand:
- The immediate release of all convicted journalists
- The overturning of all politically motivated convictions
- An end to the Azerbaijani government’s campaign against free expression and independent media
We stand in solidarity with all journalists unjustly imprisoned for doing their job.