Court Denies Aziz Orujev Early Release

Aziz Orujev

The Surakhani District Court of Baku considered the petition for parole (early release) on September 25 for Aziz Orujev, the head of Kanal-13 Internet television, who is being held in correctional facility No. 16.

According to the journalist's relatives, despite receiving a positive character reference from the prison management—which confirmed Orujev's adherence to the institution's internal rules—and the journalist's long-term treatment in a penitentiary service medical facility, the court denied his application for parole.

It should be noted that Orujev has only 2 months and 2 days remaining until the completion of his sentence.

Aziz Orujev, the head of Kanal-13 Internet television, has been under arrest since November 2023. Orujev and the channel's employee, Shamo Eminov, were initially accused of currency smuggling, but they denied the charges. Following the preliminary investigation, the charge of currency smuggling was dropped against Orujev, leaving only the charge of illegal construction. In February 2025, he was sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment. Shamo Eminov's case was separated into a different proceeding, and he was subsequently released.