Crackdown on Independent Media: Letters from Prison Highlight Unyielding Resolve

Alasgar Mammadli

As Azerbaijan moves to consolidate its post-Karabakh sovereignty, the state’s pressure on independent media and civil society figures has intensified. Two open letters—one from media law expert and Toplum TV co-founder Alasgar Mammadli, and another from Akif Qurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and spokesperson for the Third Republic Platform—offer a rare glimpse into the personal toll of these measures and the unbroken spirit of those targeted.

“This Is Not a Solution”

From his 4-square-meter cell in the Kurdakhani Detention Center, Alasgar Mammadli marked his birthday on May 24, 2025, with a letter lamenting that, “For the second year in a row, I am spending my birthday in detention—despite having committed no crime and with no court verdict against me.” He describes this ordeal as the “price” of over 30 years he has devoted to defending media freedom, journalistic professionalism, and safety.

Mammadli decries the imprisonment of dozens of colleagues—journalists, civil society activists, and human rights defenders—torn from their families and workplaces on “illegal, baseless, and fabricated charges.” He writes that the authorities have neither granted him house arrest nor allowed necessary medical treatment, despite serious health issues and pending surgery.

He draws strength from unlikely encounters in the prison corridors: “The proud, unbroken stance of Sevinc, Nargiz, and Elnara—who embrace me and show their sorrow when we cross paths—gives me moral fortitude.” Yet he urges decision-makers to see that jailing those who adhere to journalistic principles “is not a solution, nor can it ever be.”

Mammadli recalls that, thanks to unity and solidarity, Azerbaijan resolved a 30-year conflict in Karabakh. “In a moment when social reconciliation and humanism are needed, it is wrong to slander, stigmatize, imprison, and isolate people simply for their professionalism, their principles, or their civil society contributions,” he argues. He concludes by thanking everyone who has sent birthday wishes and solidarity during his detention.

“He Has ‘Earned’ Their Wrath Through Integrity”

Shortly after Mammadli’s letter was published, Akif Qurbanov sent his own birthday greetings to the imprisoned media expert. Qurbanov emphasizes that Mammadli’s “honesty, integrity, and refusal to submit to anything but the law” are precisely why the authorities have shown him such “cruelty.”

As the leader of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and speaker for the Third Republic Platform, Qurbanov appeals to Mammadli’s decades of service: “There is hardly a single media outlet or legal community in which someone was not once his student or someone he helped shape.” He notes that even those now detained on “trumped-up charges” benefited from Mammadli’s guidance “both as a teacher and as a friend.”

Qurbanov praises Mammadli’s unwavering defense of the oppressed: “He has truly wielded the pickaxe in the fight to establish and protect media freedom.” Despite Mammadli’s firm principles, “he remains gentle in nature, always ready to help, and never lacking in empathy.” Qurbanov warns the authorities that “every act of cruelty…only strengthens our determination.”

He calls on “grateful and conscientious citizens” to recognize that “people like Alasgar are candles that burn themselves to bring light into society’s darkness.” Qurbanov urges immediate dialogue and a “new, clean page” in media policy, reaffirming that “truth, justice, struggle, freedom, and rights” remain alive in Azerbaijan because of champions like Mammadli.

Broader Context and International Response

Alasgar Mammadli was arrested on March 8, 2024, as part of the “Toplum TV case.” Ten individuals—including journalists Mushfiq Jabbar and Farid Ismayilov; Akif Qurbanov himself; Ruslan Izzatli of the Third Republic Platform; and colleagues from the Institute for Democratic Initiatives—face initial smuggling charges under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, with later, more severe allegations added in January 2025.

While some defendants, such as Shahnaz Beylergizi, have been placed under house arrest or police supervision, key figures remain behind bars. Toplum TV has called these detentions “pressure on independent media,” and numerous local and international organizations have designated the detained as political prisoners, demanding their immediate release.Crackdown on Independent Media: Letters from Prison Highlight Unyielding Resolve

As Azerbaijan moves to consolidate its post-Karabakh sovereignty, the state’s pressure on independent media and civil society figures has intensified. Two open letters—one from media law expert and Toplum TV co-founder Alasgar Mammadli, and another from Akif Qurbanov, head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and spokesperson for the Third Republic Platform—offer a rare glimpse into the personal toll of these measures and the unbroken spirit of those targeted.

“This Is Not a Solution”

From his 4-square-meter cell in the Kurdakhani Detention Center, Alasgar Mammadli marked his birthday on May 24, 2025, with a letter lamenting that, “For the second year in a row, I am spending my birthday in detention—despite having committed no crime and with no court verdict against me.” He describes this ordeal as the “price” of over 30 years he has devoted to defending media freedom, journalistic professionalism, and safety.

Mammadli decries the imprisonment of dozens of colleagues—journalists, civil society activists, and human rights defenders—torn from their families and workplaces on “illegal, baseless, and fabricated charges.” He writes that the authorities have neither granted him house arrest nor allowed necessary medical treatment, despite serious health issues and pending surgery.

He draws strength from unlikely encounters in the prison corridors: “The proud, unbroken stance of Sevinc, Nargiz, and Elnara—who embrace me and show their sorrow when we cross paths—gives me moral fortitude.” Yet he urges decision-makers to see that jailing those who adhere to journalistic principles “is not a solution, nor can it ever be.”

Mammadli recalls that, thanks to unity and solidarity, Azerbaijan resolved a 30-year conflict in Karabakh. “In a moment when social reconciliation and humanism are needed, it is wrong to slander, stigmatize, imprison, and isolate people simply for their professionalism, their principles, or their civil society contributions,” he argues. He concludes by thanking everyone who has sent birthday wishes and solidarity during his detention.

“He Has ‘Earned’ Their Wrath Through Integrity”

Shortly after Mammadli’s letter was published, Akif Qurbanov sent his own birthday greetings to the imprisoned media expert. Qurbanov emphasizes that Mammadli’s “honesty, integrity, and refusal to submit to anything but the law” are precisely why the authorities have shown him such “cruelty.”

As the leader of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and speaker for the Third Republic Platform, Qurbanov appeals to Mammadli’s decades of service: “There is hardly a single media outlet or legal community in which someone was not once his student or someone he helped shape.” He notes that even those now detained on “trumped-up charges” benefited from Mammadli’s guidance “both as a teacher and as a friend.”

Qurbanov praises Mammadli’s unwavering defense of the oppressed: “He has truly wielded the pickaxe in the fight to establish and protect media freedom.” Despite Mammadli’s firm principles, “he remains gentle in nature, always ready to help, and never lacking in empathy.” Qurbanov warns the authorities that “every act of cruelty…only strengthens our determination.”

He calls on “grateful and conscientious citizens” to recognize that “people like Alasgar are candles that burn themselves to bring light into society’s darkness.” Qurbanov urges immediate dialogue and a “new, clean page” in media policy, reaffirming that “truth, justice, struggle, freedom, and rights” remain alive in Azerbaijan because of champions like Mammadli.

Broader Context and International Response

Alasgar Mammadli was arrested on March 8, 2024, as part of the “Toplum TV case.” Ten individuals—including journalists Mushfiq Jabbar and Farid Ismayilov; Akif Qurbanov himself; Ruslan Izzatli of the Third Republic Platform; and colleagues from the Institute for Democratic Initiatives—face initial smuggling charges under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, with later, more severe allegations added in January 2025.

While some defendants, such as Shahnaz Beylergizi, have been placed under house arrest or police supervision, key figures remain behind bars. Toplum TV has called these detentions “pressure on independent media,” and numerous local and international organizations have designated the detained as political prisoners, demanding their immediate release.