Three TikTok Users Shifted from Pre-Trial Detention to House Arrest Amid Wider Social Media Crackdown

Three young men, standing side by side behind window bars of a modest apartment in Baku, each wearing casual clothes and holding a smartphone with a faint TikTok logo. Image generated by ChatGPT

The user is asking me to combine two articles on TikTok users, which are essentially the same but differ in publication dates. I need to carefully read and highlight key facts, focusing on any repeats or discrepancies between the two. Since the articles are similar, I’ll be looking for slight differences and contradictions. After that, I can follow the steps they provided to combine the two versions into a cohesive blog post.

Thought for 6 seconds

Three TikTok Users Shifted from Pre-Trial Detention to House Arrest Amid Wider Social Media Crackdown

Introduction

On May 30, 2025, the Baku Court of Appeal replaced the pre-trial detention of three prominent Azerbaijani TikTok users—Vuqar Zeynalzade (alias “Vaqa”), Maharram Hasanov (“Tosu”), and Emin Abdullayev—with house arrest. All three had been detained in December 2024. Their release to house confinement marks the most recent development in a series of arrests targeting TikTok content creators accused of promoting immorality and engaging in other illicit activities.

Background

Toward the end of 2024, Azerbaijani authorities arrested more than ten TikTok users. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, these individuals organized entertainment contests on TikTok that “promoted immorality.” Following the initial wave of detentions, many faced a range of charges:

• Vuqar Zeynalzade and Maharram Hasanov were accused under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code, which covers the illegal possession or transportation of large quantities of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without intent to sell.

  
  

• Emin Abdullayev faced charges under two separate provisions: Article 193-1.3.2 (legalization of property obtained through crime by an organized group, involving a significant amount) and Article 244-1.2.2 (organizing gambling activities).

  
  

• In subsequent arrests, some TikTok users were charged under Articles 193-1.3.2 (laundering criminally obtained property—significant amounts) and 244-1 (organizing gambling), while others received drug-related indictments.

Many observers saw these arrests as part of a broader government crackdown on social media. Critics argued that targeting popular TikTok content creators effectively stifles freedom of expression in Azerbaijan.

Conclusion

The shift of Vuqar Zeynalzade (“Vaqa”), Maharram Hasanov (“Tosu”), and Emin Abdullayev from pre-trial detention to house arrest represents a modest easing of their immediate circumstances. Nevertheless, the underlying legal proceedings continue, and their eventual fates remain uncertain. More broadly, this episode is emblematic of wider tensions in Azerbaijan between state security apparatuses and a digitally connected youth eager to express themselves on platforms like TikTok. As the trials progress, all eyes will be on how Azerbaijani courts balance criminal statutes with international norms on freedom of expression—and whether critics’ claims of political motivation hold weight when verdicts are rendered.