Prosecutor Seeks 11–12-Year Sentences for Journalists in the “AbzasMedia Case”

AbzasMedia

On May 20, another court session was held in the high-profile “AbzasMedia case,” during which the prosecutor requested prison sentences totaling 80 years for the accused journalists.

At the hearing held at the Baku Serious Crimes Court and presided over by Judge Rasim Sadikhov, state prosecutor Rauf Malishov demanded the following sentences:

• Ulvi Hasanli, director of AbzasMedia: 12 years

• Sevinc Vagifgizi (Abbasova), editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia: 11 years

• Mahammad Kekalov, deputy director and coordinator: 11 years

• Hafiz Babali, investigative journalist: 12 years

• Nargiz Absalamova, journalist: 11 years

• Elnara Gasimova, journalist: 11 years

• Farid Mehralizade, journalist for Radio Azadliq and economist: 12 years

The prosecutor also called for each defendant to be barred from holding any financially or administratively responsible position for a period of three years.

In addition, Malishov requested the confiscation of:

• Farid Mehralizade’s car, as listed in the investigative materials

• €40,000 allegedly found at the AbzasMedia office

• More than 27,987 manats from the journalists’ bank accounts

A representative from the State Tax Service requested that a civil claim for 64,000 manats be upheld by the court.

The defendants laughed in response to the prosecutor’s statement. Editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi remarked, “We’ve brought our popcorn and come to watch the show.”

The court has granted defense lawyers time until June 10 to deliver their closing arguments. The next court session is scheduled to continue on that date.

Background

The arrests in the AbzasMedia case began on November 20, 2023, when the media outlet’s director Ulvi Hasanli and coordinator Mahammad Kekalov were detained. Their homes and the AbzasMedia office were searched. Authorities claimed to have discovered €40,000 in the office, but Hasanli alleged that the money had been planted by the investigators.

On November 22, 2023, upon returning to the country, editor-in-chief Sevinc Vagifgizi was arrested as she stepped off the plane. That same night, a search was conducted at her residence.

Later in November 2023, journalist Nargiz Absalamova was arrested. Subsequently, Hafiz Babali and Elnara Gasimova were also detained. In May 2024, Radio Azadliq journalist Farid Mehralizade was arrested under the same case. On that day, AbzasMedia issued a statement asserting that they had no official ties with Mehralizade.

All seven journalists detained in this case face charges under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, including:

• Article 206.3.2: Smuggling committed as part of a group

• Article 206.4: Smuggling committed by an organized group

• Article 192.3.2: Illegal entrepreneurship committed by an organized group

• Articles 193-1.3.1 & 193-1.3.2: Money laundering in large amounts committed by an organized group

• Article 213.2.1: Tax evasion committed by an organized group

• Articles 320.1 & 320.2: Forgery and use of forged documents

If convicted under these charges, the journalists could face 8 to 12 years in prison.

The accused reject all allegations and assert that they are being prosecuted for their anti-corruption investigations and professional activities. They claim the case is politically motivated and driven by an order from higher authorities.

Over the past 18 months, more than 30 journalists and civil society activists in Azerbaijan have been arrested on similar smuggling charges. Like those in the AbzasMedia case, these individuals deny the accusations and argue that they are being punished for their work.

According to local human rights organizations, there are currently around 350 political prisoners in Azerbaijan. Officials deny that any arrests in the country are politically motivated.

Nevertheless, international human rights groups, the U.S. State Department, and a number of Western diplomats in Baku have urged the Azerbaijani government to release unjustly imprisoned individuals, and to end pressure on independent media and civil society.