Draft:"AbzasMedia" case

"AbzasMedia" case

The arrest of "AbzasMedia" journalists, commonly known as the "AbzasMedia" case, refers to a wave of arrests conducted by Azerbaijani law enforcement agencies starting from November 20, 2023, against the leaders and journalists of the independent media platform "AbzasMedia." During the arrests, "AbzasMedia" founder and director Ulvi Hasanli, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, chief editor Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were detained, and a criminal case was opened against them under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling).

The arrest of "AbzasMedia" journalists has been harshly criticized by both local and international human rights defenders and organizations.

Background

"AbzasMedia" is an independent media platform in Azerbaijan known for its investigations into the businesses of state officials and authorities, including alleged corruption in the reconstruction efforts in Karabakh since 2020. "AbzasMedia" has published corruption investigations involving Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s family, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Head of the Presidential Guard Service Baylar Eyyubov, and Head of the State Security Service Ali Naghiyev, along with numerous other reports on uninvestigated crimes related to ministers and officials.

Chronology

2023 November

On November 20, 2023, around 07:00, "AbzasMedia" Chief Director Ulvi Hasanli was detained near his home while en route to the airport for a trip abroad. Hasanli was taken to the Main Police Department of Baku city, and searches were conducted at both his home and the "AbzasMedia" office. Zibeyda Sadigova, who is defending Hasanli, reported that during the five-hour search at the office, the police allegedly found 40,000 euros. However, "AbzasMedia" rejected these accusations, calling it a "staged scenario" to press charges against Hasanli. During the search, a red bruise was spotted under Hasanli’s eye. He told journalists that he was punched by the police during his detention. Hasanli also stated that after being taken to the Main Police Department of Baku city, he was subjected to inhumane treatment and torture, reporting that he has faced violence there as well. He mentioned that the questions posed to him at the police station were related to AbzasMedia's investigations about corruption.

On November 23, journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Sahila Aslanova were summoned to the Main Police Department of Baku city as witnesses in the criminal case opened against "AbzasMedia." After being interrogated for three hours, Aslanova was released. She stated that due to the confidentiality of the investigation, she could not disclose the nature of the questions asked during the interrogation. According to Absalamova, although she was told the summons was related to the arrests of Ulvi Hasanli and Sevinj Vagifgizi, none of the questions posed to her were related to that matter.

On November 24, journalists Elnara Gasimova and Mina Alyarli were summoned to the Main Police Department of Baku city as witnesses in the criminal case opened against "AbzasMedia." Elnara Gasimova was interrogated for approximately two hours and questioned about the detained journalists. Mina Alyarli noted that the questions were mainly focused on Sevinj Vagifgizi's activities, the work conducted at "AbzasMedia," and the investigations carried out by the platform.

On November 28, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali and economist Toghrul Valiyev were summoned to the Main Police Department of Baku city as witnesses in the criminal case related to "AbzasMedia." Babali stated, "I used 'Abzas Media' as a platform to publish investigative articles, but I was not questioned about these investigations. The questions were primarily about AbzasMedia's activities and my connections with them, particularly regarding financial matters." Economist Toghrul Valiyev also mentioned that he was questioned regarding AbzasMedia.

On November 30, "Abzas Media" journalist Nargiz Absalamova was summoned to the same department. After being interrogated, Absalamova was detained, facing the same charges as those brought against the leaders of "Abzas Media." Her lawyer, Shahla Humbatova, reported that Absalamova's exact whereabouts were unknown at that time. The Press Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed Absalamova's detention and stated that an investigation was underway. On December 1, a criminal case was opened against Nargiz Absalamova under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling), and the Khatai District Court ruled to impose a pretrial detention for three months.

2024 January

On 13th of January, 2024, "Abzas Media" reporter Elnara Qasimova was summoned once again to the Main Police Department of Baku city in connection with the "AbzasMedia" case. That same day, Elnara Gasimova was detained as a suspect. According to her lawyer, Bahruz Bayramov, she was held under suspicion of violating Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling). On 15th of January, the Khatai District Court ruled to place Gasimova in pretrial detention for 2 months and 17 days. Bayramov stated that Gasimova was subjected to inhumane treatment: "Her hands were cuffed behind her back when she was brought here. In the courtroom, her hands were handcuffed in the front." Gasimova denied the all charges and linked her detention to her journalistic activities. Another lawyer representing Gasimova, Aisha Abdel Gadir, noted that no evidence had been presented to justify her arrest.

2024 April

On April 18, at 18:20, the pro-government news site "Qafqazinfo" published an article titled "New Facts in the 'Abzas Media' and 'Toplum TV' Case," which also implicated Imran Aliyev, head of the "Meclisinfo" platform, accusing him of smuggling. Later that evening, at around 20:30, Aliyev was detained by the State Border Service at Heydar Aliyev International Airport and handed over to law enforcement authorities. In a video statement from the airport, Aliyev commented: "After the slanderous article about me, I purchased a ticket to Istanbul. The allegations in the news are false. It's 20:54, and they’ve confiscated my passport and ticket and detained me."

The following day, on April 19, the Khatai District Court ordered a 2-month, 1-day pretrial detention for Imran Aliyev, charging him under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling; on preliminary arrangement by group of persons). According to his relatives, Aliyev was involved in the investigation as a suspect in the "AbzasMedia" case. Aliyev denied the charges. His lawyer, Ganga Ibrahimov, stated that after Aliyev was detained and brought to the police station, he was beaten, tortured, and forced to sign a document under duress. Aliyev’s "Meclisinfo" platform monitors the activities of the Milli Majlis (Azerbaijan's National Assembly).

Additionally, on April 20, it was reported that political activists Elgiz Gahraman and Murad Rustambayli were prohibited from leaving Azerbaijan. They were informed of this restriction by the State Border Service at Heydar Aliyev International Airport at different times. The restriction was imposed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, though no specific reason was provided.