Farid Mehralizadeh Writes from Prison: “TV Channels Operate Based on Theses from a Single Source”

Farid Mehralizadeh

Imprisoned Radio Azadliq journalist Farid Mehralizadeh, in a letter from detention, emphasizes the crucial role of independent media in Azerbaijan, where he says the parliament and judiciary are under the control of the executive. In such conditions, he argues, independent journalism functions not merely as a "fourth estate" but takes on the role of a "second power."

Mehralizadeh sent the letter to Radio Azadliq on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3.

"The Last Vent Closed"

“Political parties, organizations, and NGOs in Azerbaijan have long ceased to play an active role in public discussion,” he writes. “Under such conditions, independent media outlets had served as a kind of breathing space for democratic engagement. However, over the past two years, the widespread arrests of journalists and new media legislation appear aimed at closing off that breathing space entirely and homogenizing public discourse in the country.”

Mehralizadeh was detained as part of a criminal case against AbzasMedia, an investigative outlet focused on corruption. While authorities accuse him and his colleagues of smuggling and financial crimes, Mehralizadeh stated in court that his punishment is directly tied to his work with Radio Azadliq. During his trial, he recounted how he was forcibly detained on May 30, 2024, on his way to work, with a bag thrown over his head. He described enduring physical and psychological pressure to surrender his phone’s password. He warned that politically motivated arrests might offer temporary political gains to certain groups, but ultimately, they harm society as a whole.

The Cost of Silencing the Media

“Of course, being imprisoned—especially on fabricated and baseless charges—is not a pleasant experience,” Mehralizadeh wrote. “But I believe politically motivated arrests should concern every citizen, not just the victims or civil society. Limiting the operations of independent media serves no one’s interests and ultimately harms the welfare of all.”

He further underlined that press freedom is a key indicator when evaluating a country's development and stability:“Press freedom is essential for transparency, accountability, inclusive decision-making, and timely exposure of problems. That’s why, when assessing a country’s sustainable development or its attractiveness to foreign investors, it’s not just economic indicators that matter—freedom of the press, judicial independence, and public participation in governance are also critical. Therefore, I both wish and hope that obstacles to independent journalism in Azerbaijan will soon be removed, and that World Press Freedom Day will be celebrated not with grief, but with optimism.”

Life in an Information Blockade

Mehralizadeh notes that one of the harshest aspects of imprisonment is the information vacuum. With print media in Azerbaijan largely eliminated and no internet access in prison, television remains the only available source of information:

“It is well known what the state of television channels is in Azerbaijan. I can say with certainty that I have obtained almost no substantial information about major developments in the country over the past year, particularly in key areas like the economy. Most local channels broadcast nothing but trivial ‘entertainment’ shows. News-focused channels mainly prioritize stories about foreign countries. As for domestic political issues, the coverage is one-sided and reflects the rhetoric of the ruling party’s official propaganda.”

He points out that Azerbaijani TV stations regularly air reports against political prisoners and media outlets whose staff have been detained. These reports consistently lack responses from independent media experts or human rights defenders, offering only unchallenged accusations:“This, above all, contradicts professional media principles. When no court verdict has been issued against a person, using absurd and laughable labels like ‘criminal,’ ‘spy,’ or ‘agent’ in state-controlled media shows a serious lack of journalistic ethics.

Watching these channels, it becomes obvious that their work is organized based on theses received from a single source. On nearly every channel, the same political topics are discussed daily, with the same questions, approaches, and sometimes even identical scripts used for reports and programs. Apart from utility service issues, no investigative reporting is done on topics that concern the public. These propaganda and manipulation efforts are carried out in a very crude manner.”

Official Claims vs. International Criticism

Government officials claim that political pluralism and press freedom are fully upheld in Azerbaijan and that journalists face charges not for their professional activities, but for alleged crimes. In contrast, numerous international human rights and media organizations continue to call on the Azerbaijani authorities to release those they view as wrongfully imprisoned and to end pressure on the media and civil society.