
Caspian Wire: Travel Bans, Trials and Protests | January 2025
Mass arrests and detentions in Imisli province
On January 18, residents of the Azerbaijani administrative district Imisli took to the streets after a fatal car accident caused by a police vehicle colliding with a civilian car, killed three children, and injured one, whose condition remains critical.
In a collective expression of anger, residents dismantled the police vehicle and marched towards the local police station. Over 100 residents were detained as a result. While many were released after questioning, at least 14 residents have been pressed with hooliganism charges and were sentenced to two months of pre-trial detention. The Ministry of the Interior also issued an arrest warrant for the driver of the civilian car. The 17-year-old man is being accused of driving without a license, violating traffic rules, fleeing the crime scene, and causing the death of the children.
The town has been under heavy police supervision and the presence of internal troops since the day of the accident. At least two of the parents whose children died as a result of the accident have told the media that they are against arrests of the residents and called on relevant authorities for their release. Azerbaijani opposition has also voiced criticism against the treatment of residents, holding the ruling government accountable for the arbitrariness.
Travel bans prevent family members and journalists from leaving the country
On January 4, Tahira Tahirqizi, mother of arrested human rights defender Rufat Safarov, was reportedly banned from leaving the country. In a statement, Tahirqizi said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs imposed the travel ban.
Rufat’s father, Eldar Sabiroglu, suffers from a severe form of Parkinson’s disease, and he undergoes examinations in Turkey every six months. His condition has sharply worsened in the past couple of weeks, and the couple was en route to Turkey for an examination when Ms. Tahirgizi was informed of the travel ban.
At least two journalists – Ulviyya Ali and Khanim Mustafayeva — were also placed on a travel ban.
According to data collected by Free Voices Collective, more than 50 individuals associated with or are civil society representatives currently face travel bans linked to bogus investigations levelled against journalists, activists, and human rights defenders in pre-trial detention.
Jailed journalist continues reporting on rights abuses behind bars
Even in detention, Abzas Media journalist Elnara Gasimova remains committed to her profession, documenting systemic abuses in Baku’s Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 1.
In a letter published in Azerbaijani, Gasimova exposed the physical and psychological mistreatment of women inmates, violations of their legal rights, and inhumane conditions within the prison. She compared the center’s mismanagement to misgovernance in Azerbaijan, corrupt, rampant with intimidation, and neglect.
“Just as citizens’ rights are violated in the country, they are also violated in the detention centre” – Elnara Gasimova.
Chair of trade union sentenced and violations in court cases
On January 14, Afiyaddin Mammadov, chair of the Confederation of Workers’ Desk Trade Unions, was sentenced to 8 years. Mammadov denied the charges and said he was arrested for defending workers’ rights. He also condemned the ruling to silence labour rights activists.
Meanwhile, the trial of Mohyaddin Orujov, a member of the Confederation of Workers’ Desk Trade Unions, was abruptly interrupted due to illegal actions in the courtroom. Orujov, his family members, and four members of the Workers’ Desk Committee—Tural Farzili, Narmin Rustamli, Ilkin Ziya, and Sara Rahimova—were subjected to physical violence and humiliation by employees of the Penitentiary Service and Ministry of Justice.
They were insulted, dragged on the ground, and forcibly removed from the courtroom, which highlights systematic mistreatment and violations of fundamental rights.
Political activist sentenced to ten years
On January 13, political activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was sentenced to ten years. Hajiyev was arrested in 2022 and has been in pretrial detention since. He was first facing hooliganism and contempt with court charges. However, the charges were later aggravated to include tax evasion, smuggling, document forgery, money laundering, and illegal entrepreneurship. Hajiyev has denied all of the charges since the start of the case.
On January 9, Hajiyev’s colleague and friend Rail Abbasov received a six-year and six-month prison sentence.
Ganja court sentences director of a news website to 8 years
On January 22, the court in Ganja sentenced Arshad Ibrahimov to eight years on extortion charges. Ibrahimov was arrested in December 2023. He is the director of dunyaninsesi.az website.
Fazil Gasimov appeals to judges over abuse
On January 10, during the hearing at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, Fazil Gasimov, an Istanbul University doctoral student detained in the same case as economist Gubad Ibadoghlu, claimed he was assaulted and denied access to critical defense documents.
His appeal was turned down, with judges citing a lack of jurisdiction over incidents outside the courtroom. His lawyer, Fuad Ağayev, called the decision biased and said it violated Gasimov’s defense rights.
On January 25, Fazil Gasimov was threatened with murder by another defendant in the case, Anar Aliyev, if he did not dismiss his legal team.
Gasimov has been in custody since June 2024 and denies the charges against him.
Activist detained for demanding freedom for political prisoners
On January 10, political activist Jamil Hajiyev was detained outside the Baku Court of Grave Crimes for displaying a sign reading “Freedom for Political Prisoners!”. Hajiyev, a member of the National Council’s Coordination Center and the Musavat Party was apprehended by police stationed at the courthouse and taken away in a patrol car to an unknown location. He was released after several hours.
Hajiyev, previously detained and fined for participating in protests, was at the court to support the trial of fellow activist Tofig Yagublu.
Abzas Media trial continues
On January 21, the next court hearing in the “Abzas Media case“ was held at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Lawyers and journalists accused in the case protested against the insufficient number of people allowed into the courtroom and filed a motion.
The trial continued with the testimony of the Abzas Media director, Ulvi Hasanli. He stated that “Abzas Media” not only investigates corruption cases at the highest levels of government but also highlights societal issues and violations of citizens’ rights in Azerbaijan. Thus, this has provoked the anger of the authorities.
“Everything that contradicts the principles of journalism is considered journalism in a dictatorship. That is why we are currently in prison,” Ulvi Hasanli noted in his testimony.
The next court hearing is scheduled for February 11.
Aggravating charges against the defendants in the “Toplum TV” case
Whilst those in the “ToplumTV” case were previously charged only under Article 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group) of the Criminal Code, on January 17, they are now facing additional six charges:
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Article 162-1.1 (hiring employees without a labour contract),
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Article 192.3.2 (Illegal entrepreneurship especially when committed to obtaining significant profit),
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Articles 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (legalisation of property obtained through crime committed by an organised group or criminal organisation and committed in large quantities),
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Article 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by an organised group in prior collusion),
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Article 213.2.1 (tax evasion committed by an organised group).
These charges are identical to the aggravated charges against “Abzas Media” that were levelled in August 2024, except for Articles 162-1 and 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code.
Another Toplum TV journalist arrested
Farid Ismayilov, who was arrested in March 2024 during the raid on Toplum TV but later released under police supervision, was arrested on January 17 and sent into two months and twenty days of pretrial detention. Ismayilov’s lawyer told reporters that his arrest was unjustified. Police claimed he violated the rules of police supervision by traveling to the regions without informing them. The journalist denies the accusation, saying he has been checking in regularly. Ismayilov also suffers from a lung condition. This was why he was released under police supervision in March 2024.
Activist Detained After protesting on the day of municipal election
On January 29, Azerbaijan held municipal elections. Activist Jalal Javadov protested elections by placing photos of imprisoned Meydan TV journalists into a ballot box. Later that evening, his friends reported that it was not possible to reach Javadov. On January 31, the Nasimi District Court of Baku sentenced Jalal Javadov to 30 days of administrative detention. He was charged with illegal consumption of drugs.