Azerbaijan: Journalists Face New Charges And Extended Detention
Abzas Media publications have covered alleged corrupt deals by companies connected with government officials. The outlet has also reported its findings about environmental issues such as dangerous pollution and health risks related to Gedabek gold mine near Soyudluin Gabaday district in western Azerbaijan. Abzas Media was reportedly planning a further investigation into the pollution related to the goldmine and other human rights violations prior to these arrests.
The six members of the investigative news outlet Abzas Media are not the only journalists prosecuted and detained under false charges in retaliation for their work. Independent journalist, Imran Aliyev, accused of cooperating with the Abzas Media, has also been arrested and is in pretrial detention. In November-December 2023, a court in Baku remanded into custody Aziz Orujov, Director of Kanal 13, and its anchor Shamo Eminov, also on charges of smuggling grant money. At least three more journalists covering corruption and human rights issues in Azerbaijan have been arrested on questionable charges. They include Teymur Karimov, reporter and Director of online news outlet Kanal-11. On 6 March 2024, police raided and detained several journalists and activists including the founder of Toplum TV, Alasgar Mammadli, journalist Mushfig Jabbar, board members of Third Republic, Ruslan Izzatli and founder of the organisation Institute for Democratic Initiatives (IDI) Akif Gurbanov and, as well as activists from IDI Ramil Babayev and Ali Zeynalov.
On 24 July 20204, Ulvi Hasanli reported receiving threats from the administration after publishing a letter from his detention centre, alleging that “prisoners are crucified, beaten and hung on bars in the corridors" and subjected to other torture and ill-treatment. The letter came shortly after The Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), had published a statement on 3 July 2024 in which it, exceptionally, expressed extreme concern regarding torture and other ill-treatment by police.”
Azerbaijan adopted a new media law in 2022 imposing arbitrary barriers for media organizations to register and obtain funding. Many critical outlets have been arbitrarily denied registration. Some independent media have been forced to cease their work. Others risk prosecution under trumped-up charges if they accept financial support, including grants from abroad, to enable them to continue their work.
Since it was announced that Azerbaijan would be the host of COP29, the authorities have further intensified their crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. Several prominent government critics have been locked up under politically motivated charges, or forced into exile, in a haunting echo of the previous crackdowns documented by Amnesty International around other major international events hosted by Azerbaijan.