Azerbaijan: 7 New Charges Filed Against 6 Jailed Abzas Media Journalists, WPF Condemns Persecution, Demands Their Release
Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, Sevinj Vagifgizi among those facing over a decade in prison if convicted
Location: Azerbaijan, Baku
Date: August 17, 2024
Women Press Freedom condemns the ongoing persecution of six journalists from Abzas Media—Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Ulvi Hasanli, Hafiz Babal, and Mammad Kekalov—who are facing multiple new criminal charges. These journalists, known for their reporting on state corruption, have been held in pre-trial detention for months under absurdly politicized accusations from Azerbaijani authorities. The regime's assault on the free press has intensified, with the situation worsening in 2024 as documented by Women Press Freedom, including raids on independent media, harassment of journalists covering elections, and the unjust detention of reporters. We are deeply concerned for the safety of independent press workers in Azerbaijan and stand in solidarity with all 23 journalists wrongfully detained in the country. We demand the immediate dismissal of all charges against the Abzas Media journalists and their release. As Azerbaijan prepares to host COP29 in November, we urge the international community to apply pressure on the Azerbaijani government to uphold human rights standards and end its persecution of the independent press. All those unjustly imprisoned in the country must be freed.
On August 17, 2024, it was announced that Azerbaijani authorities had leveled seven new charges against the six jailed journalists from Abzas Media, including Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, Sevinj Vagifgizi.
Lawyers for the journalists revealed the charges include illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, smuggling, document forgery, use of forged documents, and tax evasion, all committed by an organized group. They face up to 12 years in prison if convicted.
A representative of Abzas Media, told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the journalists deny all the accusations and believe the charges are “an attempt to end Abzas Media’s reporting on top-level corruption.”
The Abzas Media case symbolizes the increasing repression of independent media in Azerbaijan. The government’s targeting of the outlet began on November 20, 2023, with the arrest of Ulvi Hasanli, the director, following a police raid at his home and the Abzas Media office. This was followed by the arrests of deputy director Mammad Kekalov, chief editor Sevinj Vagifgizi, and other journalists including Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, and Hafiz Babal. They were first accused of baseless smuggling charges and have remained behind bars since, their detentions repeatedly extended.
On November 28, 2023, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned ambassadors from the U.S., France, and Germany, accusing them of supporting Abzas Media through "illegal financial transactions." This action is indicative of the Azerbaijani government's strategy to suppress dissent by accusing critics of being "foreign-funded."
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has called on the international community to pressure Azerbaijani authorities to release the 23 imprisoned journalists and media workers. With COP29 due to be held in Baku in November, the EFJ urges the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat to ensure Azerbaijan adheres to international human rights standards and does not use the conference to further suppress journalists and activists.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns these new charges against the Abzas Media journalist, like the others they face, these accusations are utterly baseless and politically driven. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all of the unjustly jailed journalists. The Abzas Media case has become emblematic of the Azerbaijani regime's broader assault on press freedom. Women Press Freedom remains steadfast in its commitment to defending journalists and upholding the rights of the independent press in Azerbaijan. We urge the international community to apply pressure on the Azerbaijani government to halt its ongoing repression of independent journalism.
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