Date of Birth: 2 May 1981
Detained Since: 24 August 2023
Affiliation: Journalist and blogger associated with Azadlıq Radiosu; independent regional journalist focusing on abuses by public officials

Charges:

• Fraud causing substantial damage (Art. 178.2.4)

• Extortion by a group of persons (Arts. 182.2.1 and 182.2.2) – later dismissed by the court

• Hooliganism (Art. 221.2.2)

Conviction and Sentence:

On 17 April 2024, Jamil Mammadli was sentenced to 6 years and 12 days’ imprisonment by the Sumgayit Assize Court after being acquitted of extortion but convicted of fraud and hooliganism. On 24 June 2024, the Sumgayit Court of Appeal upheld the verdict, leaving the sentence unchanged.

Political Prisoner Status:

His detention meets criteria (a) and (e) of PACE Resolution 1900 (2012):

• (a) Violation of fundamental rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of association, liberty, and the right to a fair trial under the European Convention on Human Rights.

• (e) Politically motivated prosecution aimed at silencing him for his independent journalistic activity and criticism of public officials.

Summary:

Jamil Mammadli is an Azerbaijani journalist and blogger with more than 20 years of experience, known for reporting on sensitive local issues and abuses by public officials in the northern regions of Azerbaijan. He has been associated with Azadlıq Radiosu and has worked independently, often publishing critical content.

He was initially detained in December 2022 and January 2023 and placed under police supervision. On 24 August 2023, this measure was replaced with pre-trial detention, and he remained in custody thereafter. His prosecution followed prior pressure, including earlier administrative cases linked to his journalistic activity.

The case against him combined multiple unrelated allegations, including fraud, extortion, and hooliganism. At trial, the court dismissed the extortion charges due to lack of evidence but still convicted him on other counts, relying on a fragmented and recharacterized narrative of his interactions with sources and individuals connected to his reporting.

The fraud accusation arose from contacts initially linked to his journalistic work, including engagement with individuals seeking publicity on a sensitive criminal case. These interactions were later reinterpreted as criminal conduct, raising concerns about the criminalization of journalistic activity.

His case forms part of a broader pattern of repression against independent journalists in Azerbaijan, where critical reporting is increasingly met with criminal prosecution. Observers and independent assessments regard the charges as politically motivated and aimed at suppressing dissent and discouraging investigative journalism.

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