January 27, 2025

27.01.2025 – Azerbaijan’s Escalating Crackdown on Journalists: New Charges and Arrests

Azerbaijan has intensified its crackdown on independent media, targeting journalists from Toplum TV (@Toplumtv1) (https://toplummedia.tv/) and other outlets with new charges and arrests. On 17 January 2025 journalist Farid Ismayilov (Fərid İsmayılov) working for Toplum TV was detained by the police and placed in pretrial custody until 6 April 2025. Authorities justified the detention by accusing him of violating previous police supervision conditions, though Ismayilov and his legal team denied these allegations. On 24 January 2025 the Baku Court of Appeals considered an appeal, but did not release the journalist.

This follows a broader pattern of repression, with Azerbaijani authorities filing six additional charges against Toplum TV journalists, including allegations of illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and organizing crimes in collaboration with others. Previously, the charges carried a maximum penalty of eight years, the new charges increase the potential sentence to 12 years. The accusations are widely viewed as retaliation for Western donor funding and independent reporting, with Toplum TV staff denying any wrongdoing.

The situation escalated on 6 March 2024, when police raided Toplum TV’s offices and arrested nine journalists and activists affiliated with the outlet and its partner organization, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives (@idiazerbaijan) (https://idi-aze.org/). A case under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Law has been started against Ismailov. While some were later released under travel bans, several remain under legal scrutiny. Similarly, journalists from other independent outlets, such as Meydan TV (https://www.meydan.tv/en/) and Abzas Media (https://abzas.org/az/), face comparable charges. During this action allegedly according to the officials money was seized.

Azerbaijan has also targeted individual journalists. On 11 January 2025 authorities at Baku (Bakı), Azerbaijan, International Airport blocked journalist Khanim Mustafayeva (@khanimyashar) (Xanım Mustafayeva) from leaving the country, citing a travel ban without explanation. Days later, on 16 January 2025 Voice of America (https://www.voanews.com/) reporter Ulviyya Ali (Ülviyyə Əli) (@UlviyyaAli) was interrogated and informed of a similar ban, tied to allegations against Meydan TV.

Additional a trial started against Sevinj Vagif gizi Abbasova (Sevinj Vagifgizi), born 1989, and her colleagues. Sevinj reported also about allegedly violence at the Baku Investigation Detention Center. In January this year Ershad Ibrahimov from dunyaninsesi.az was sentenced to 8 years in prison

The Azerbaijani government has yet to respond to international criticism, and the judiciary has largely supported investigative authorities, further suppressing freedom of the press. Despite the repression, the journalists and their supporters continue to push back, advocating for transparency, justice, and accountability.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the ongoing crackdown on independent journalists and media outlets in Azerbaijan. These actions represent a severe attack on press freedom and aim to silence critical voices. SEEMO is particularly concerned about Ismayilov’s health, given his medical history, and calls for his immediate release along with all other unjustly detained journalists. SEEMO will closely monitor this situation and continue advocating for the protection of independent media in Azerbaijan.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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