Sevinj Vagifgizi: “No one should face any threat, imprisonment, or death for uncovering the truth.”

Sevinj Vagifqizi

Sevinj Vagifqizi, the imprisoned editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, has received the Courage Award from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as part of their Free Press Awards.

Gunel Safarova, the director of Abzas Media, accepted the award on behalf of Vagifqizi at a ceremony in Paris on November 15.

Safarova also read a letter from Vagifqizi to those attending the event.

The letter is as follows:

“A journalist must think without borders to find the truth. The truth should not be subject to state manipulations. One should not try to hide the truth by saying, 'We have our national interests, our state interests.' A journalist should not surrender to those slogans or those ideas.

My main message is that if a journalist wants to find and show the truth, there should be no mental barriers suggesting that uncovering it is against statehood or national interests.

Truth is universal and boundless. "Reporters Without Borders," as their name suggests, must be absolutely boundless in their thinking so they can find the truth and not sacrifice it to state policy. I am glad that this organization is represented precisely by reporters who think boundlessly, journalists who think without borders, and is composed of journalists who continue to tell their truths no matter the cost.

I want this organization to grow even more and the number of these journalists to increase so that telling the truth becomes the normal standard in the world. And so that special courage is not required for it. Why must we absolutely be courageous to tell the truth? This should be normal. No one should face persecution for telling the truth. Everyone should comfortably reveal these truths and, in return, not face any threat, imprisonment, or death. I desire such a world.”

Reporters Without Borders calls Sevinj Vagifqizi a symbol of dignity and hope because of her dedication to her beliefs, her firm refusal to be silenced, and her strength when facing unfairness.

Sevinj Vagifqizi was arrested in November 2023. She was taken into custody with Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli, project coordinator Mahammad Kekalov, investigator Hafiz Babali, journalists Elnara Gasimova and Nargiz Absalamova, and Radio Liberty worker and economist Farid Mehralizade.

They were accused of smuggling and financial crimes, which they denied. On June 20, 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes gave Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifqizi, Hafiz Babali, and Farid Mehralizade 9-year prison sentences. Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova received 8-year sentences, and Mahammad Kekalov got 7 years and 6 months in prison related to the “Abzas Media case.”

On September 9, the Baku Court of Appeal agreed with this sentence.

Global media and human rights groups view these arrests as an effort to silence independent media in Azerbaijan.