Azerbaijan: Police Arrest Elnara Gasimova on Charges of Smuggling
Crackdown on media continues with ninth arrest
Location: Azerbaijan, Baku
Date: January 15, 2024Update: March 7, 2024
The crackdown on media in Azerbaijan continues as police arrest Elnara Gasimova, a journalist associated with AbzasMedia, on charges of smuggling. Gasimova's arrest marks the ninth media worker detained since the crackdown began in late November 2023. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom fully supports Elnara Gasimova. We condemn the arrest and baseless accusations against her in the strongest terms. We urge the Azerbaijani government to respect democratic principles and put an end to its oppressive actions against press freedom. We insist on the immediate release of all journalists currently detained.
Elnara Gasimova appeared in court on January 15, 2024, at the Khatai District Court in Baku, where she was remanded in custody for a period of two months and 17 days. Her arrest came after being summoned as a witness in the ongoing AbzasMedia court case two days earlier.
Upon her arrival at court, Gasimova was handcuffed and accompanied by her lawyer, Bahruz Bayramov. Bayramov vehemently denied the charges of smuggling, calling them "baseless and absurd." Gasimova herself believes that her arrest is directly related to her journalistic activities.
On March 7, 2024, Gasimova’s pre-trial detention period was extended until June 13, 2024.
The crackdown on media in Azerbaijan began in late November, with the arrest and charging of five members of AbzasMedia on allegations of smuggling foreign currency as part of a group. Among those arrested were director and founder Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, and journalists Hafiz Babali and Nargiz Absalamova.
AbzasMedia is renowned for its investigative reports, particularly on the business dealings of the Aliyev family and alleged corruption in the reconstruction efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh since 2020.
In addition to the arrests at AbzasMedia, police have also targeted people associated with the independent media. Ilhamiz Guliyev — a human rights activist and former police officer who provided anonymous comments to AbzasMedia regarding the alleged practice of police planting drugs on suspects — was arrested in early December on charges of possessing a large quantity of methamphetamine.
The founders of Kanal 13 and Kanal 11, two online TV channels, were arrested in November and December. The former was charged with building a house without a permit, while the latter faced charges of extortion.
The detentions of these journalists are emblematic of a broader trend of suppressing independent media in Azerbaijan. Throughout the years, there have been numerous instances of raids, arrests, and criminal investigations targeting independent media outlets and organizations that advocate for press freedom. These actions have been extensively documented by CFWIJ.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stands firmly behind Elnara Gasimova, offering unwavering support. We strongly denounce her arrest and the continuous suppression of media in Azerbaijan. These oppressive actions violate press freedom and suppress independent journalism. We urge the Azerbaijani government to release its tight control over the narrative and uphold democratic principles by safeguarding journalists and guaranteeing their safety.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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