Hafiz Babalı, an investigative journalist jailed in Azerbaijan, is reportedly in declining health

Hafiz Babalı

According to posts on his Facebook page, Babalı has a serious leg problem with bruising, redness, and open wounds. A doctor at the prison says his condition is serious and requires immediate treatment.

Babalı was arrested in December 2023 as part of the AbzasMedia case and charged with smuggling. In June 2025, he was sentenced to nine years in prison by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. The Baku Court of Appeals upheld this decision in September 2025. Babalı insists he is innocent and that he was only arrested because of his journalism.

On top of his health problems, Babalı filed a complaint in November to Justice Minister Farid Ahmadov and Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva, claiming his rights are being violated. He says that since early November, Penitentiary Establishment No. 2 has stopped him from sending official complaints to the courts. These complaints were to start lawsuits against pro-government media outlets that he says have been running a smear campaign against him, falsely accusing him of crimes like illegal financing and anti-state activity.

The AbzasMedia case has led to harsh sentences for several people at the organization. Along with Babalı, director Ulvi Hasanli, chief editor Sevinj Vagifgizi, and journalist Farid Mehralizade were all sentenced to nine years. Journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova received eight years, and project coordinator Mahammad Kekalov received seven and a half years. International media and human rights groups have criticized the case, seeing it as an effort by the government to silence independent media in Azerbaijan, where around 30 journalists have been arrested on similar charges in the last couple of years.