Baku sentences journalists investigating Aliyev family to 9 years

PanARMENIAN.Net - On June 20, the Baku Serious Crimes Court delivered its verdict in the case of Abzas Media, convicting several of its staff and affiliated journalists. Director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and Radio Azadliq journalist-economist Farid Mehralizadeh were each sentenced to 9 years in prison, according to Meydan TV.

Journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elinara Gasimova received 8-year sentences, while deputy director Muhammed Kekalov was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months.

Abzas Media is known for its investigative reporting on corruption among Azerbaijani officials, including President Ilham Aliyev’s family business dealings. The journalists revealed, for example, that the company developing a “smart village” in Zangilan is owned by the president’s aide’s brother, as reported by the BBC.

The crackdown on Abzas Media began on November 20, 2023. In May 2024, Radio Azadliq journalist Farid Mehralizadeh was added to the case, though Abzas Media has stated he was never part of their team.

The accused journalists rejected the charges, claiming their arrests were politically motivated and linked to their anti-corruption investigations.

Both local and international human rights organizations have denounced the case as political persecution and called for the immediate release of the journalists and dismissal of all charges.

International watchdogs have labeled the detained reporters as political prisoners, noting that the number of such detainees in Azerbaijan has now reached 375. In recent years, the Azerbaijani government has expelled local branches of the BBC and Voice of America, and shut down offices of several international organizations, including the UN and the Red Cross.