Azerbaijan trial of Abzas Media journalists a 'mockery of justice', report says

A legal watchdog set up by the Clooney Foundation for Justice has condemned the imprisonment of seven independent journalists in Azerbaijan, describing their trial as a "mockery of justice".

The TrialWatch report said the prosecution of staff from the investigative outlet Abzas Media was aimed at silencing coverage of state corruption rather than addressing financial wrongdoing.

The journalists and media workers were sentenced to prison terms of between seven and nine years after being convicted of offences including smuggling, tax evasion, and illegal entrepreneurship.

Françoise Tulkens, a former vice-president of the European Court of Human Rights who monitored the case for TrialWatch, said the defendants were denied basic fair trial guarantees protected under international human rights treaties.

In court testimony cited in the report, economist and journalist Farid Mehralizade said investigators beat and threatened him while in custody.

"If you talk too much, this is how you will end up," investigators told him, according to his statement.

The report concluded that prosecutors failed to prove individual criminal guilt, with judges resolving all procedural doubts in favour of the state and severely restricting defence arguments.

It noted that the authorities used heavy criminal charges for administrative or regulatory matters that at most warranted minor civil fines.

Those convicted in the case include Abzas Media founder Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Abbasova, journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, translator Mahammad Kekalov, Turan News Agency journalist Hafiz Babali, and Mr Mehralizade.

Rights organisations say the case reflects a wider campaign to suppress independent journalism ahead of major international events in the country.

Since November 2023, more than 30 journalists and civic activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on similar charges. Local human rights groups estimate there are currently 328 political prisoners in Azerbaijani detention facilities.

The Azerbaijani government denies that anyone is detained for political reasons or professional journalistic activity, maintaining that those facing charges have committed specific criminal acts.

International rights groups have called on the authorities in Baku to release all journalists and political prisoners immediately.