Day: December 12, 2024
Activist jailed in Azerbaijan
In Azerbaijan, the trial of civic activist Ilhamiz Guliyev, accused of drug trafficking, has concluded.
The investigation into the case of Aziz Orujov, director of the internet television channel Kanal-13, has also been completed, and the case files have been submitted to court.
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On December 12, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes announced the verdict in the case of civic activist Ilhamiz Guliyev. The court reclassified the charges from Article 234.4.3 (illegal drug trafficking with intent to sell on a large scale) to the lesser Article 234.1-1 (illegal acquisition, possession, production, processing, or transportation of narcotics or psychotropic substances in large quantities without intent to sell) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code and sentenced the activist to three years in prison.
The prosecutor requested a sentence of seven years in prison.
Before the verdict was announced, Guliyev gave his final statement, rejecting the charges and calling his arrest a “set-up.” He stated that he did not expect a fair trial.
Guliyev’s lawyers also pointed to a lack of credible evidence against him, describing his arrest as retaliation for an interview he gave to the online outlet Abzas Media. In the interview, he claimed that “drug-related cases are mostly fabricated.”
The defence requested Guliyev’s acquittal and called for an investigation into the investigator who initiated the case and allegedly falsified the charges.
Guliyev was detained on December 4, 2023, and two days later was remanded in custody for four months on charges of large-scale drug trafficking.
According to human rights activists, the real reason for Guliyev’s arrest was his interview with Abzas Media. In the interview, Guliyev was introduced as a “former police officer.” In the past, he had served as an unofficial assistant to a police investigator.
Human rights groups have recognised Guliyev as a political prisoner.
On the same day, it was revealed that, following a preliminary investigation, charges against Kanal-13 director Aziz Orujov under Article 206.3.2 (smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy) of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code had been dropped.
The case has been sent to court under Article 188.2 (unauthorised construction on land without ownership rights) only, according to a statement by the journalist’s wife, Lamiya Orujova, to Turan outlet.
She noted that the case will be heard at the Sabail District Court in Baku.
Article 188.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code provides for a penalty of either restricted freedom for one to three years or imprisonment for the same duration.
Aziz Orujov was detained on November 27, 2023, on charges of illegal construction. He was later accused of smuggling.
Orujov denied the charges. Human rights activists have recognised him as a political prisoner.
Anthony Blinken: “She returned knowing that she might be arrested on arrival.”
The U.S. Department of State awarded Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, with the “Champions of Combating Corruption” award.
Sevinj is known for her work on corruption investigations, and she is currently imprisoned.
In his speech, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted Sevinj’s devotion over the past decade in exposing government abuses.
“She is also the one awardee who is not with us this afternoon. In November 2023, Sevinj flew home from an overseas country amid a crackdown on Azerbaijani independent media. She returned knowing that she might be arrested on arrival. She was. Now, more than a year later, she remains in detention. Prior to her arrest Sevinj wrote and I quote, ‘I don’t feel fear anymore. I know what they can do. It does not stop me. It is more important to be useful to the people. People need us’”
-Antony Blinken
Blinken also expressed gratitude to the ten anti-corruption champions for their courage. He said it was an honor to partner with them in this fight. The Department of State created the “Champions of Combating Corruption” award in 2021 to recognize individuals who have made significant progress in fighting corruption and to show the U.S. government’s solidarity with them.
This year’s award recipients include journalists, human rights defenders, judges, and even government officials who have facilitated major institutional changes. Other awardees include Jorge Mora Cortes from Colombia, Matrika Daxal from Nepal, Altin Dumani from Albania, Srbukhy Galyan from Armenia, Carl Irani from Lebanon, Marr Nyang from Gambia, Javier Enrique Caraballo Salazar from Panama, Didar Smagulov from Kazakhstan, and Jimmy Spyre Ssentongo from Uganda. Blinken emphasized that each recipient made a difficult decision to help their own citizens and all the people around the world, and their dedication, along with those of others, we are in a better place now.
AbzasMedia, the organization behind Sevinj’s work, has also faced significant challenges. Six of its employees, including the general manager Ulvi Hasanlı, assistant Muhammad Kekalov, editor Sevinj Vagifgiz, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafız Babali, have been arrested. These individuals are facing charges of smuggling, with some detained since November 2023.
On May 31, 2024, journalist and economist Farid Mehralizade from the “Azadlig” radio station was arrested, and a search was conducted at his home. He was accused under Article 206.3.2 of the Penal Code, which concerns smuggling by a group of individuals who had previously made secret agreements. The Khatai District Court decided to detain him for security reasons. On the same day, AbzasMedia issued a statement declaring that Mehralizade had no connection to the media organization.
Following this, each of the detainees in the AbzasMedia case was faced with additional serious charges related to financial matters. Since November 2023, nearly 20 journalists and social activists have been arrested in Azerbaijan on smuggling charges. None of these individuals have been charged based on their professional activities or political affiliations.
According to local human rights organizations, there are currently around 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons. Authorities typically assert that no one has been detained solely for political reasons related to their professional activities. However, both local and international human rights organizations believe these arrests are politically motivated, and they are calling for the release of the detainees and the withdrawal of the charges against them.
The post Sevinj Vagifgizi honored as anti-corruption champion appeared first on MEYDAN.TV.
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