Caspian Wire: Trials, Detentions and Closure of Media | February 2025
Journalist sentenced to two years behind the bars
On February 26, Aziz Orujov, head of the Baku office of the Internet television channel “Kanal 13”, was sentenced to 2 years in prison.
Orujov was arrested on November 27, 2023. He was initially charged under unauthorised construction on land without the right to ownership. On December 19, additional smuggling charges were brought against him. However, when the case was sent to the court, the smuggling charges were dropped.
Labor rights activist sentenced to three years
On February 25, labor rights activist and member of the Confederation of Workers’ Desk Trade Unions, Mohyaddin Orucov was sentenced to three years. Previously, the prosecutor demanded a seven-year sentence for the activist.
Orujov was arrested on December 13, 2023, and charged with drug possession and trafficking.
Peace activist Bahruz Samadov goes on hunger strike
On February 21, the Baku Grave Crimes Court held a preparatory hearing on the criminal case against scholar and peace activist Bahruz Samadov, who is accused of treason. Samadov’s lawyer filed several motions including one calling for Samadov’s transfer under house arrest. The court rejected the motions. At the end of the hearing, Samadov announced he was going on hunger strike in protest to his unlawful detention.
State Security Service officers detained Samadov on August 21, 2024. A Baku court sentenced him to four months in pretrial detention on spurious high treason charges.
Gubad Ibadoglu nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
On February 21, Belinda Davis, a professor of history at Rutgers University and director of the Center for European Studies, nominated her former colleague and senior fellow at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Dr. Gubad Ibadoglu, for the Nobel Peace Prize. Ibadoglu was arrested in July 2023. A months-long campaign calling for his immediate release and unjust arrest, eventually led to his transfer under house arrest, where he remains at the time of writing.
Azerbaijani government ordered the suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani
On February 20, the Azerbaijani government ordered the suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani service — another significant setback for independent media in the country. Previously, state-controlled media reported the government wanted to reduce the number of BBC staff working in the country to one, in efforts to curtail independent journalism and restrict access to unbiased information. BBC Azerbaijan service has operated in Azerbaijan since 1994.
Abzas Media trials continue
The journalists on trial have by now refused to attend two hearings— on February 11, and February 19— on the grounds their complaints of physical violence and ill-treatment they have faced at the Baku Pre-Trial Detention Centre No. 1 have not been investigated and inhumane conditions at the detention center. The journalists said the latter was negatively impacting their health. Separately, economist Farid Mehralizadeh and frequent Radio Liberty contributor said he was brought to court by force. Mehralizadeh is tried together with Abzas Media journalists.
Veteran opposition politician facing ten years behind bars
Tofig Yagublu, member of opposition Musavat party, and a senior politician in the National Council of Democratic Forces, a coalition of opposition parties and activists in Azerbaijan may face 10 years behind bars as per a prosecutor’s demand. The prosecutor demanded the lengthy jail sentence during Yagublu’s hearing on February 19. On February 21, the National Council of Democratic Forces issued a statement condemning the prosecutor’s demand emphasising that the charges against Yagublu are completely false.
Judicial pressure and arrest in the “Meydan TV case”
On February 12, the Baku Court of Appeal kept Meydan TV journalist Ramin Deko in detention, refusing his transfer under house arrest.
Separately at least two more journalists – Shamsgad Agha and Nurlan Gahramanli (Libre) were arrested as part of the investigation launched against Meydan TV. Agha was arrested on February 5 and Gahramanli on February 21. Both journalists have been sentenced to pre-trial detention. Agha to two months and one day, Gahramanli to one month and seventeen days.
Both journalists face smuggling charges similar to all previously arrested journalists.
On February 25, a Baku court kept another Meydan TV journalist, Natig Javadli in detention.
Journalist challenges the travel ban decision
The Khatai District Court of Baku has refused to consider journalist Ulviyya Guliyeva (Ali)’s complaint regarding the travel ban. No further context was provided by the court regarding the refusal. On January 16, Voice of America journalist, Guliyeva was questioned at the Baku City Police Department in connection with the “Meydan TV case.” She was then informed she was placed under a travel ban.
Turan News Agency temporarily suspends work due to funding difficulties
The agency said it was taking time to restructure and rethink its coverage in a statement shared on its website. Turan News Agency was founded in the 90s by a group of journalists. Its current director is Mehman Aliyev. In August 2017, the agency briefly suspended its work when its director, Mehman Aliyev, was arrested on charges of tax evasion and abuse of power. In September, the prosecutors dropped the leveled charges, and the agency resumed its work in October 2017.
Civic activist arrested following municipal election in Azerbaijan tortured as per testimony in court
Civic activist Jalal Javadov who was arrested after staging a protest (by placing a picture of arrested Meydan TV journalists into the ballot box) during the January municipal election, said he was subject to torture prior to receiving the 30-day administrative detention. Javadov was sentenced on January 31, on bogus drug possession charges. During his appeal in court on February 7, Javadov recalled how officers at the police station beat him to a point that required medical attention.
Activist Famil Khalilov gets a conditional sentence
On February 6, the Baku Court of Grave Crime delivered a verdict in the case of Famil Khalilov, civic activist and person with first-degree disability. The court handed Khalilov a three-year suspended sentence with a two-year probation period.
Khalilov was facing drug possession charges with an intent to sell. However, the court reduced the charges by dropping the intent to sell aspect of the indictment.
Khalilov was arrested on May 2, 2024. In August, he announced he was going on a hunger strike, which lasted over eighty days. In December 2024, the activist was transferred under house arrest.
Journalist arrested in Toplum TV case
On February 5, journalist Shahnaz Baylargizi (Huseynova) was detained as a suspect in the “Toplum TV case.” A court in Baku sentenced the journalist to three months and fifteen days in pretrial detention the next day. Baylargizi was charged with the same charges that were leveled against journalists and rights defenders in the “Toplum TV case” on January 17.
On February 25, a Baku court kept Toplum TV journalist Farid Ismayilov in detention. The journalist has health problems and has undergone seven surgeries.
On February 26, Toplum TV journalist Shahnaz Baylargizi (Hüseynova) was transferred under house arrest.
Religious activist sentenced to four months in pre-trial detention
On January 31, Elvin Zeynalov was arrested outside his home. He was then convicted on drug possession charges on the next day. The activist denies the charges leveled against him.
Zeynalov’s family told reporters that his house was searched by men in black uniforms who took a pair of black pants during their search. They allege drugs were planted inside the pockets.
Anar Mammadli is denied adequate medical care
Despite his deteriorating health, detained human rights defender Anar Mammadli is being denied adequate medical care. On February 3, Mammadli felt dizzy, and has been suffering from headaches and back pain.
On February 15, the pre-trial detention of Anar Mammadli, the director of the Center for Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies was extended for another three months.
Anar Mammadli was detained on April 29, 2024. He faces charges of conspiracy to unlawfully bring money into the country and if convicted, might be sentenced up to eight years in prison.
Abzas Media journalist Nargiz Absalamova faced violence in pre-trial detention facility
Abzas Media journalist Nargiz Absalamova, who has been detained for more than a year, was subjected to violence in Baku Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1. Aygul Babayeva, a guard of the detention center, scratched the journalist’s arm deeply in several places with her nails. According to Absalamova, this is not the first time this guard has behaved this way. She has shown particular violence and rudeness towards them on several occasions before.
Azerbaijan Popular Front Party under fire
On February 6, the Baku Court of Appeal rejected the appeal filed by Ali Karimli, chairman of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP), against the verdict of the Nasimi District Court finding him guilty under Article 147.1 (slander) of the Criminal Code and fining him 1,500 manats.
On February 11, Shamil Jafarov, an APFP member , was sentenced to 15 days of administrative detention on petit hooliganism and disobeying police charges by the Yevlakh District Court.
On February 22, Akram Shabi, also a party member, was sent into 30-day administrative detention on charges of disobeying police.
Shabi is among 11 party members arrested in the last 3 months according to Ali Karimli. APFP members are often targeted by the authorities and the party members have been in and out of administrative detention and have faced criminal charges over the recent years. According to Karimli, up to 50 party activists have faced arrests on criminal charges, and about 300 members have been administratively arrested.