Elnara Gasimova
is a journalist who was sentenced to 8 years in prison on June 20, 2025.
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CASE STATUSConvicted
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DETAINED INBaku Pre-Trial Detention Facility no 1.
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GROUPJournalist
Date of Birth: 15 February 1996
Detained Since: 13 January 2024
Affiliation: Journalist with AbzasMedia
Charges:
- Conspiracy to commit illegal entrepreneurship (Art. 192.3.2)
- Conspiracy to commit money laundering (Arts. 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2)
- Conspiracy to commit bulk cash smuggling (Art. 206.4)
- Conspiracy to commit tax evasion (Art. 213.2.1)
- Forgery and use of forged documents (Arts. 320.1, 320.2)
Conviction and Sentence:
On 20 June 2025, Elnara was sentenced to 8 years in prison by the Baku Assize Court. Appeal is pending.
Political Prisoner Status:
Her detention meets criteria (a) and (e) of PACE Resolution 1900 (2012):
- Violation of freedom of expression and association under the ECHR
- Her prosecution is politically motivated and aimed at silencing her as a critical journalist affiliated with AbzasMedia
Summary:
Elnara Gasimova is a journalist from Azerbaijan’s post-2014 generation of reporters, working both independently and with AbzasMedia, an outlet known for its anti-corruption investigations and critical stance toward the government. She was arrested in January 2024 after being summoned for questioning in connection with the earlier detentions of AbzasMedia director Ulvi Hasanli and editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi.
Her case—part of the wider “AbzasMedia case”—was escalated in November 2024 to include multiple conspiracy charges. The prosecution’s claims centre on the alleged discovery of €40,000 in AbzasMedia’s office, which her defence and independent observers maintain was planted by authorities. No credible evidence links her to these funds or to any unlawful activity.
The smuggling, money laundering, and illegal entrepreneurship charges are unsupported by verifiable evidence. The court’s reasoning relied on vague legal analysis, politically motivated narratives in pro-government media, and selective application of justice. The proceedings were marred by procedural violations and resembled patterns of political repression previously condemned by the European Court of Human Rights in 2013–2014 cases.
International human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, have condemned her arrest and trial as politically motivated and unjust.