Date of Birth: 22 November 1994
Detained Since: 30 May 2024
Affiliation: Economist and Journalist, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Radio Azadliq)
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, Farid was sentenced to 9 years in prison by the Baku Assize Court. Appeal is pending.

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

• Violation of freedom of expression and association under the ECHR
• Prosecution driven by political motives to silence his work as an independent economic commentator and journalist

Summary:

Farid Mehralizada is an Azerbaijani economist and journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service, known for his expert analysis of economic policy and its impact on citizens. He has also contributed to various independent outlets, including occasional commentary for AbzasMedia. Farid has stated that his only “crime” was “reporting the truth about Azerbaijan’s economy and how the government’s policies affect its citizens.”

Although not an employee of AbzasMedia, he was implicated in the “AbzasMedia case” following a wave of repression launched in late 2023 against independent journalists and NGOs. In May 2024, he was violently abducted and later charged with smuggling, allegedly in coordination with AbzasMedia staff.

In November 2024, charges were expanded to include money laundering, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and document forgery. The prosecution’s central claim is tied to €40,000 allegedly found in AbzasMedia’s office — funds his defence and independent observers assert were planted. No evidence links him to the money, its transfer, or any illicit activity.

The case reflects hallmarks of politically motivated prosecution: fabricated associations, reliance on unsubstantiated evidence, and smear campaigns in pro-government media. Proceedings were marked by denial of due process, lack of forensic or documentary proof, and selective justice.

International human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, have condemned his arrest and trial as unjust and politically motivated.

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