Azerbaijan has intensified its crackdown on independent media by sentencing seven journalists, including a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reporter, to prison terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years on politically charged financial crime allegations. The verdict, delivered on June 20, 2025, marks a severe blow to press freedom in a country already ranked 167th out of 180 on the World Press Freedom Index. International rights groups and governments have condemned the trial as a sham aimed at silencing critical voices exposing corruption and human rights abuses.
Court Sentences and Charges
Prison Terms and Accused Journalists
The Baku Court of Serious Crimes convicted six journalists from Abzas Media, an independent investigative outlet, alongside RFE/RL journalist Farid Mehralizade, sentencing them to lengthy prison terms:
- Ulvi Hasanli (Abzas Media director): 9 years
- Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abzas Media editor-in-chief): 9 years
- Hafiz Babaly (Abzas Media investigative journalist): 9 years
- Nargiz Absalamova (Abzas Media reporter): 8 years
- Elnara Gasimova (Abzas Media reporter): 8 years
- Mahammad Kekalov (Abzas Media deputy director): 7.5 years
- Farid Mehralizade (RFE/RL journalist and economist): 9 years
The charges include currency smuggling, money laundering, tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship, and document forgery. Authorities initially arrested the Abzas Media team in November 2023 after discovering 40,000 euros in cash at their office. Mehralizade was detained in May 2024 under the same case, despite not being affiliated with Abzas Media.
Denial of Charges and Trial Criticism
All seven journalists have categorically denied the accusations, labeling the charges as retaliatory and politically motivated due to their investigative reporting on corruption linked to President Ilham Aliyev and his inner circle. The trial was widely criticized for procedural irregularities, lack of credible evidence, and reports of ill-treatment in custody.
International Reactions and Statements
Human Rights Organizations Condemn Verdict
Amnesty International’s Marie Struthers described the case as a blatant weaponization of Azerbaijan’s judicial system to suppress independent journalism, urging a strong international response and immediate release of the journalists. She criticized the European Union for prioritizing energy deals with Azerbaijan over defending human rights2.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called the sentences “outrageous” and the trial “purely political,” designed to silence those exposing corruption and injustice. Anne Bocandé, RSF’s editorial director, stated, “The Azerbaijani authorities may imprison journalists, but they cannot imprison the truth.” RSF demanded the immediate release of all defendants and increased international pressure on Baku.
Statements from RFE/RL and Journalists
Stephen Capus, President and CEO of RFE/RL, condemned the trial as a sham and called for Farid Mehralizade’s release so he could reunite with his family. Mehralizade, in his closing court statement, declared that the verdict was dictated by those who ordered their arrests, not the judges, emphasizing the lack of judicial independence in Azerbaijan.
Abzas Media’s director Ulvi Hasanli and editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi publicly denounced the charges, asserting that President Aliyev personally ordered the case to suppress investigations into corruption affecting him and his close associates. Hasanli stated, “Ilham Aliyev can take away our physical freedom, but he cannot take away our freedom of thought, expression, and speech”.
Government Response
President Ilham Aliyev, in power since 2003, dismissed international criticism, claiming Azerbaijan maintains “a free press and a free internet.” Despite these assertions, the government has systematically targeted independent media outlets and journalists over recent years.
Broader Context of Media Repression in Azerbaijan
Crackdown on Independent Media
The sentencing of these seven journalists is part of a larger pattern of repression against independent media and dissent in Azerbaijan. Since November 2023, at least 28 journalists have been detained on politically motivated charges, primarily currency smuggling and related financial crimes, a tactic frequently used to silence critics.
Other media outlets, such as Toplum TV and Meydan TV, have faced raids, credential revocations, and closures. The BBC was forced to shut its Azerbaijan office, and foreign media voices like Voice of America and Bloomberg have had their press credentials revoke.
Press Freedom Ranking and International Concern
Azerbaijan’s ranking near the bottom of the World Press Freedom Index reflects the country’s deteriorating media environment. International organizations, including Human Rights Watch and the U.S. government, have repeatedly condemned the Azerbaijani government’s use of fabricated criminal charges to suppress journalism and civil society.
The sentencing of seven journalists in Azerbaijan to lengthy prison terms on dubious charges represents a stark escalation in the government’s crackdown on media freedom. Despite global condemnation and calls for their release, the Azerbaijani authorities continue to stifle independent reporting, undermining the principles of free expression and rule of law. This case highlights the urgent need for sustained international pressure to protect journalists and uphold human rights in Azerbaijan.
