Today, on June 20, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced the defendants in the “Abzas Media case” trial.
According to the verdict, “Abzas Media” director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifqizi, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, “Radio Liberty” journalist and economist Farid Mehralızadeh were sentenced to nine years in prison, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to eight years, and deputy director Mahammad Kekalov to seven years and six months.
The arrests in the “Abzas Media case” began on November 20, 2023. Six employees of “Abzas Media” conducting corruption investigations in Azerbaijan were arrested – director Ulvi Hasanli, his deputy Mahammad Kekalov, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifqizi, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafiz Babali.
In May of last year, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist and economist Farid Mehralizadeh was also arrested in the “Abzas Media case.” On the same day, Abzas Media issued a statement saying it had no ties to Mehralizadeh.
The journalists deny the charges and say their arrests are politically motivated for their corruption investigations.
Local and international human rights organizations consider these arrests politically motivated and call for the journalists’ release and the charges against them to be dropped.
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