Updated: June 23, 2025

Background

What’s happening in Azerbaijan?

Beginning in December 2022, Azerbaijan initiated a crackdown on civil society that has resulted in the arrest of dozens of journalists, civic activists, lawyers, and political opponents under specious and politically-motivated charges.

The recent spate of arrests fits a pattern in Azerbaijan given the government’s record of restricting internationally-protected human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, belief, assembly, association, and political participation. More than simply curtailing the exercise of these rights, the government interferes with and harasses civil society and independent journalists, is intolerant towards political opposition and dissent, and is especially heavy-handed with those who raise issues related to government corruption and human rights abuses committed by officials.

Azerbaijan is a consolidated authoritarian regime according to Freedom House. Since assuming office in 2003, President Ilham Aliyev has severely limited political competition and pluralism and is responsible for widespread violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Employing control over the judiciary and legal system, law enforcement and security agencies, and the media, President Aliyev and his allies have imprisoned their perceived opponents and prevented critics from speaking out about the corruption at the heart of President Aliyev’s regime and the human rights abuses for which it is responsible.

The government has initiated a series of crackdowns on civil society over the past 15 years, often corresponding with events where local dissidents were able to draw international attention to the dire human rights situation in the country. The trend began around the time of the Arab Spring movements in 2011 and continued through Baku’s hosting of the 2012 Eurovision contest, the presidential election of 2013, Azerbaijan’s leadership of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in 2014, the country’s hosting of the European Olympic Games in 2015, the parliamentary elections of 2015, the constitutional referendum of 2016, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.

The most recent crackdown began with the arrest of Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, a pro-democracy activist, in December 2022 on false charges. Since then, many others have been targeted including prominent economist and professor Gubad Ibadoghlu.

The arrests have targeted individuals involved in independent media and civic groups which were denied registration or chose not to register due to a severely restrictive new media law that was passed in December 2021. The law created new rules requiring outlets to register with the government, journalists to complete unrealistic training, and outlets to publish a high minimum number of items began working as they were intended. As a result of the law, journalists, especially those revealing corruption and social challenges in Azerbaijan, were targeted with arrest, including the eleven journalists arrested on bogus charges of smuggling and extortion in 2023.

Unregistered groups are extremely vulnerable to abuse and harassment by the authorities, By making it impossible for independent media or civic groups to register, the authorities prevent them from fully pursuing their peaceful goals, whatever they may be, while maintaining leverage over these groups.

In the following months, the campaign of repression and arrests has picked up steam as Azerbaijani law enforcement detained several labor activists on false drug charges, hooliganism, and deliberate infliction of bodily harm. Unfortunately, the arrests continue, which only adds to the number of activists, journalists, political opposition members, and others who appear to be targeted with repression for political reasons.

Politically motivated imprisonment is not a new tactic in Azerbaijan. However, this most recent round of arrests saw troubling new trends. The first is the increasing use of administrative charges – particularly “hooliganism” and “disobeying a lawful order by a police officer” – to imprison individuals for up to 30 days. Local sources indicated a surge in these types of charges in 2023, counting at least 39 instances in which such charges were used against government critics. Second, is the use of reprisals against family members. The government has banned family members of imprisoned individuals from leaving the country and in some cases even frozen the assets of family members, an action the European Court of Human Rights has previously ruled is a human rights violations. These punitive measures raise serious concerns about the scope of the crackdown.

Brief summaries of the recent arrests and the targeted individuals – now numbering 56 – are below, along with information about the units and individuals likely responsible for these abuses and the unfolding crackdown. Freedom Now will update this list periodically to capture arrests and other developments that are part of the escalation of repression in Azerbaijan.

What has the international response been?

As the arrests and repression have mounted, so has concern across the world about growing authoritarianism, the evisceration of independent media and civil society, and human rights abuses in Azerbaijan. Leaders and policymakers in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere have called for the detained to be released, to receive adequate medical care while detained, and for the government of Azerbaijan to end its weaponization of legislation against civil society.

On April 25, 2024 the European Parliament passed a resolution which called for the release of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, a suspension of the European Union’s energy partnership with Azerbaijan, and that sanctions be prepared for Azerbaijani officials responsible for human rights abuses.

On May 10, 2024, the United Nations Committee Against Torture published findings on several countries, including Azerbaijan, in which the Committee expressed concern about the country’s shrinking civic space and allegations that human rights defenders and journalists continue to face physical and judicial harassment, as well as torture and ill-treatment.

Who has been arrested?

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

	Age: 40
	Occupation: Pro-democracy activist and blogger
	Arrested: December 9, 2022
	Charges: ·       Hooliganism (charged December 2022); ·       Illegal entrepreneurship (charged June 2023); ·       Tax evasion (charged November 2023)
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison

Bakhtiyar Hajiyev is a democracy activist, former parliamentary candidate, and graduate of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has been repeatedly subjected to politically motivated harassment and prosecution in connection with his human rights advocacy and criticism of the authorities. In May 2011, Hajiyev was convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to two years imprisonment. In April 2022, Hajiyev was kidnapped near his home in Baku, allegedly by the Azerbaijani Interior Ministry representatives, in retaliation for his criticism of Azerbaijan’s Minister of Internal Affairs.

On December 9, 2022, Azerbaijani officials arrested Bakhtiyar Hajiyev for hooliganism and contempt of court in connection with civil case against him. Hajiyev pled not guilty to the charges and claimed he was targeted with repression because of his recent pro-democracy activism. After his arrest Hajiyev went on a fifty-day hunger strike leading to a sharp deterioration in his health. A week after Hajiyev announced a dry hunger strike, intimate photos and messages stolen from Hajiyev’s Facebook account were leaked in an apparent attempt to defame him and other activists and journalists he was communicating with.

In June and November 2023, the investigation indicted Bakhtiyar Hajiyev with additional criminal code charges.

As of June 6, 2024, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes is set to hear the criminal case against Bakhtiyar Hajiyev.

On June 17, 2024, the penitentiary service allowed Hajiyev to undergo a medical examination in a private clinic at the expense of his family.

On January 13, 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Hajiyev to 10 years in prison. The court also ordered the confiscation of his house and bank accounts, and imposed a one-year ban on his educational activities upon release.

Gubad Ibadoghlu

	Age: 51
	Occupation: Economist, civic and political activist.
	Arrested: July 23, 2023
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to produce, sell, and store counterfeit money. ·       Distribution of religious extremist materials.
	Status: Placed under house arrest

Gubad Ibadoghlu is a well-known academic and corruption expert who has focused his research on public financial management and good governance, which are unpopular topics among the Azerbaijani authorities. He and his wife, Irada Bayramova, were violently detained on July 23, 2023 near Baku, Azerbaijan, after they had returned to the country earlier in July to visit Dr. Ibadoghlu’s ailing mother. In the incident the two were driving a car when it was rear-ended and surrounded by other vehicles. Approximately 20 people in masks emerged from the vehicles and roughed up Ibadoghlu and Bayramova, later taking them to a facility operated by the Main Directorate of Combatting Organized Crime. Ms. Bayramova was eventually released several hours later.

Dr. Ibadoghlu is falsely charged with crimes associated with counterfeit currency and extremist religious materials, charges he denies and which have yet been substantiated. If convicted, Dr. Ibadoghlu could face up to 17 years in prison. Dr. Ibadoghlu is presumably targeted because of his criticism of the Azerbaijani government’s corruption and economic policies, his affiliation with an unregistered opposition political party-the Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Movement- and his founding of the Azerbaijani Youth Education Foundation in the UK with the goal of promoting young Azerbaijanis in higher education abroad.

In detention, Dr. Ibadoghlu’s health condition has deteriorated. He does not receive adequate medical help and treatment for his type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and back pain.

On February 15, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku extended Dr. Ibadoghlu’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On April 22, 2024, the Nariman District Court in Baku City altered the preventive measure and released Dr. Ibadoghlu under house arrest. The court imposed several restrictions, including adhering to a curfew between10 p.m. to 10 a.m.), wearing an electric monitoring device, responding to phone calls or other requests from supervisory state authorities, and not leaving Baku.

Dr. Ibadoghlu’s health remains critical following his release from prison. According to his relatives, he needs urgent surgery and medical care abroad.

On July 29, 2024, the court presiding over Dr. Ibadoghlu’s case issued an order to “freeze the proceedings until further notice,” citing his ill-health as the key basis for the decision. The charges against him and the travel ban remain in place.

Elvin Mustafayev

	Age: 27
	Occupation: Labor rights activist
	Arrested: August 4, 2023.
	Charges: · illegal acquisition, storage, production, processing, and transportation of narcotic drugs without intent to sell .
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to three years in prison

Elvin Mustafayev is a board member of the Confederation of Trade Unions Table of Workers. He also worked as a courier. He was initially targeted after participating in an August 2023 protest of couriers. The protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the seizure of their scooters after authorities introduced new traffic rules.

The Narimanov District Police Department detained Mustafayev on August 4, 2023, under charges of large-scale drug trafficking. The police accused him of illegally acquiring and possessing heroin. The investigation failed to indicate the source where Mustafayev purchased the drugs. On August 5, 2023, the Binagadi District Court of Baku City remanded Mustafayev for four months of pre-trial detention.

On January 31, 2024, the Baku Court for Serious Crimes sentenced Mustafayev to three years in prison. The court found Mustafayev not guilty on the charges related to illegal sale of drugs, which holds sentence of five to twelve years in jail. The court reclassified the initial charges under the more lenient Criminal Code Article 234.1-1 (illegal acquisition, storage, production, processing, and transportation of narcotic drugs without intent to sell).

Aykhan Israfilov

	Age: 33
	Occupation: Labor rights activist
	Arrested: August 11, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Large-scale drug trafficking.
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.

Aykhan Israfilov is a board member of the Confederation of Trade Unions Table of Workers under the Democracy 1918 movement and a courier. He participated in the 2023 courier protests concerning the new vehicle registration laws that would restrict their work. Israfilov is disabled as a result of a childhood accident.

Israfilov was detained on August 11, 2023, by employees of the Narimanov District police. On August 12, 2023, the Baku City Binagadi District Court remanded Israfilov for four months of pre-trial detention and placed him in pre-trial detention center No. 3 in Shuvelyan. In September 2023, Israfilov’s sister stated that her brother was placed in dare prison conditions. He was held in the cell for ten people with 18 other cellmates. The cell is cramped, with poor ventilation and lighting. The prisoners take turns sleeping. They do not have drinking water or heating.

On December 19, 2023, trial proceedings began before the Baku Serious Crimes Court. During the pretrial hearing, the court denied the motion on transferring Israfilov under house arrest or to the pre-trial detention N1 in Kyurdakhan, which is adopted to house prisoners with disabilities.

On April 2, 2024, the Baku Serious Crimes Court convicted him under Article 234.1-1 of the Criminal Code (large-scale drug trafficking) and sentenced him to three years imprisonment.

Jamil Mammadli

	Age: 42
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: August 20, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Fraud ·       Extortion ·       Hooliganism.
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to six years and twelve days in prison

Jamil Mammadli is a former regional correspondent for the Azadliq radio (2010-2014) and investigative journalist. He founded his YouTube channel and covered social issues in northern Azerbaijan. In recent years, he started investigating the corruption of local government officials. On March 4, 2022, the Khachmaz District Court sentenced Mammadli to one and a half years of correctional labor, finding him guilty of libel. He was convicted based on the complaint of the head of the executive power of the Guba region. Mammadli pleaded not guilty.

On 17 January 2023, the Guba regional department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a criminal investigation into Mammadli under charges of hooliganism in connection with a December 15, 2022 traffic incident. Later, on August 20, 2023, the Sumgayit Court for Serious Crimes granted the prosecution a motion and Mammadli was taken into custody in the courtroom by the bailiffs of the Sumgayit Assize Court upon pre-trial detention order under charges of hooliganism, fraud, and extortion.

On April 17, 2024, the Sumgayit Court for Serious Crimes sentenced Mammadli to six years and twelve days in prison after convicting him of fraud and hooliganism and dropping charges of extortion. Mammadli portrayed his conviction as retaliation for criticizing the authorities.

Rail Abbasov

	Age: 44
	Occupation: Human rights defender.
	Arrested: September 19, 2023
	Charges: ·       Large-scale fraud
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to six and half years in prison

Rail Abbasov is a human rights activist and long-time associate of democracy activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev. They participated together in various civil society projects. After Hajiyev’s arrest, Abbasov led a public campaign for Hajiyev’s release.

On June 6, 2023, Abbasov was summoned to the police for questioning and his apartment was searched. On the morning of September 19, 2023, the Nasimi District police arrested Rail Abbasov. He was initially questioned as a witness. Later in the evening, he was detained as a suspect under charges of large-scale fraud. According to his lawyer, one person has filed a complaint against Abbasov, who pleaded not guilty. On September 20, 2023, the Nasimi District Court placed Abbasov under four months of pre-trial detention.

On January 18, 2024, the Nasimi District Court of Baku extended Abbasov’s pre-trial detention for an additional two months.

In April 2024, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes began hearings in the criminal case against Abbasov.

On January 9, 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Abbasov to six and a half years in prison on charges of fraud.

Afiaddin Mammadov

	Age: 28
	Occupation: Labor rights and peace activist
	Arrested: September 20, 2023
	Charges: ·       Intentional infliction of serious bodily harm in a risky manner for hooligan motives. ·       Illegal acquisition, sale or carrying of gas weapons, cold weapons, including cold throwing weapons. ·       Hooliganism
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison

Afiaddin Mammadov is an Azerbaijani labor rights and peace activist, the Workers’ Table Trade Unions Confederation Chair, and a member of the Democracy 1918 Movement. He was actively involved in the Azerbaijani food delivery couriers’ 2023 protests. Azerbaijani authorities subjected Mammadov to several administrative offense charges for his activism, including on August 1, 2023, when Mammadov was arrested on administrative charges of disobeying police. He was allegedly tortured and denied access to a lawyer.

On September 20, 2023, the Investigation Department of the Khatai District Police Department arrested Mammadov for premeditated infliction of bodily damage and armed hooliganism after an unidentified man claimed Mammadov had stabbed him with a knife in front of his house. On September 21, 2023, the Khatai Court sentenced him to a two-month pre-trial detention. On November 15, 2023, the court extended Mammadov’s detention by an additional two months. According to Azerbaijani Internet Watch, based on the information provided by journalist Ulviyya Ali, the alleged reasons for prolonging his pre-trial detention were his FB posts supporting peace and criticizing President Ilham Aliyev.

In December, the investigation amended charges against Mammadov and indicted him under charges of “intentional infliction of serious bodily harm in a risky manner for hooligan motives”; “illegal acquisition, sale or carrying of gas weapons, cold weapons, including cold throwing weapons”; and “hooliganism with the use of weapons or objects used as weapons, if it was accompanied by the use of violence against the victim or destruction or damage to another person’s property.”

In March 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began hearings in the criminal case against Mammadov. The next hearing is scheduled for July 30, 2024.

As of December 2024, sixteen months arrest his arrest, Mammadov was still under pre-trial detention.

On January 14, 2025, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Mammadov to eight years in prison.

According to his family, he has been kept in incommunicado detention since April 20, 2025.

Ulvi Hasanli

	Age: 36
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: November 20, 2023.
	Charges: · Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison

Ulvi Hasanli is a human rights activist, journalist, and the director of Abzas Media (since 2016). He worked on a journalist investigation of Azerbaijani government corruption and nepotism. In the past, he led several pro-democracy youth organizations, including Dalga, the Free Youth Movement, and the NIDA youth movement, aiming to promote democratic and social reforms. Abzas Media was subjected to numerous denial-of-service attacks (DdoS), a cyberattack where a site is blocked for public access. In 2017, the website was blocked domestically, forcing the website managers to switch the website’s extension. In April 2020, the website was hacked and, as a result, lost a month’s worth of published articles, and some of the articles’ headlines were tampered with. The platform was targeted again in February 2021.

On November 20, 2023, Hasanli was supposed to travel abroad and left his house with a suitcase. However, he did not take his flight, according to others on the plane. Later that day, it was confirmed that the Baku City Chief Police Department arrested Hasanli on his way to the airport, and police had search warrants on both Hasanli’s home and the offices of Abzas Media. Allegedly, during the arrest, Hasanli was beaten.

Azerbaijani authorities filed charges against Hasanli for conspiring to smuggle foreign currency According to local sources, Hasanli is being held in pre-trial detention with no access to phone calls or family visits. When Hasanli complained, prison officials threatened him with reprisal. In January 2024, a court ordered his mother’s social security pension to be frozen.

On March 14, 2024, the Khatai District Court prolonged his pre-trial detention for three months. On July 3, 2024, the court reviewed motions on the transfer to house arrest of Abzas Media journalists. The court denied the motion and left Hasanli under pre-trial detention until September 2024.

On July 31, 2024, Hasanli reported that prisoners in Baku’s Pre-Trial Detention Center N1, where he is held, experienced severe torture and ill-treatment. Within the first six months of his placement, he documented 58 incidents of torture and inhumane treatment. According to Hasanli, detainees are subjected to beatings, being handcuffed hanging upside down from iron bars, lying on the concrete floor for hours, and other forms of physical and psychological torture.

On August 17, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Hasanli. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

On August 21, 2024, Hasanli’s wife, Rubaba Guliyeva, voiced concern for her husband’s safety. Hasanli alleges that a fellow prisoner in his cell repeatedly assaulted and threatened him with a razor allegedly under the orders of Baku Detention Center head Elnur Ismayilov. The threats followed Hasanli’s letter from the pre-trial detention center, in which he revealed instances of prisoner torture and mistreatment.

The Khatai District Court extended the pre-trial detention of Hasanli for an additional three months on September 7, 2024. As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation. After the defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Hasanli.

In February 2024, four AbzasMedia journalists, including Hasanli, refused to attend their trial, citing degrading prison conditions such as being transported in overcrowded vehicles and held in cold, smoke-filled basement rooms at the courthouse. Their lawyer, Elchin Sadygov, argued that these conditions are harmful for their health and violate the law.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Mahhamad Kekalov

	Age: 22
	Occupation: Journalist and disability rights activist
	Arrested: November 20, 2023.
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to seven and half years in prison

Mahhamad Kekalov is disability rights activist, a social entrepreneur, a journalist, and a Global Voices contributor. He is the founder of “Kekalove Adaptive Fashion,” a fashion brand for wheelchair users. Kakelov was affiliated with Abzas Media.

On November 20, 2023, plainclothes men allegedly took Kekalov from his house against his will. They also seized his computer and a mobile phone. Kekalov was subsequently driven away in an unknown direction, and his whereabouts remained unknown for more than 48 hours. During his incommunicado detention, the charges against him were unspecified. On November 22, the Baku City General Police Department eventually confirmed his detention. It announced that Kekalov had been charged with smuggling in collusion with Hasanli and Sevinj Vagifgizi (see below).

Although Kekalov’s family hired him a lawyer, unbeknownst to them, he was assigned a different lawyer and refused the family lawyer’s service. On November 23, 2023, the Khatai District Court placed Kekalov under four months of pre-trial detention on charges of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency.

Kekalov’s pre-trial detention was extended several times. On June 12, the Khatai District Court extended his pre-trial detention for another three months.

On August 17, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Kekalov including illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation on AbzasMedia case, and after the defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Kekalov.

On April 1, 2025, Kekalov appeared in court and repudiated his earlier testimony from the preliminary investigation, claiming it was obtained under duress. He subsequently rejected the charges against him.

He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Sevinj Vagifgizi

	Age: 34
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: November 21, 2023.
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison

Sevinj Vagifgizi is an Azerbaijani reporter and journalist. She previously worked as a correspondent for the Berlin-based, Azerbaijan-focused independent media outlet Meydan TV. From 2015 to 2019, Vagifgizi was barred from leaving the country when authorities informed her that Meydan TV was being investigated in a criminal case. In 2019, she faced libel accusations after reporting on people voting with government-issued prefilled ballots. From 2019 to 2021, she was targeted by the Pegasus spyware. In 2022, Vagifgizi became the editor-in-chief of the independent media platform Abzas 0Media.

On November 21, 2023, Azerbaijani authorities arrested Vagifgizi, who was en route to Baku on a flight from Istanbul. Several eyewitness Azerbaijani activists told Meydan TV she was detained once the plane landed in Azerbaijan. Authorities took Vagifgizi to the Main Police Department of Baku city. She was charged with conspiring to smuggle foreign currency and placed under four months of pre-trial detention.

On November 25, 2023, the investigation banned phone calls and visits with the family and restricted phone calls with the lawyer. The Khatai District Court blocked her bank accounts and cards for pension payments and salaries and issued a decision regarding inspecting bank accounts and taxes. The bank also blocked her mother’s pension account by barring the elderly woman from receiving the pension.

On March 14, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku prolonged her pre-trial detention for two months and twenty-nine days. Vagifgizi has complained about her prison conditions, citing a lack of heating in the cold and leaking water from a heater that covered her cell floor.

On July 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court reviewed motions on the transfer to house arrest of Abzas Media journalists. The court denied the motion and left Vagifgizi in the pre-trial detention until September 2024.

On August 17, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Vagifgizi including illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

The Khatai District Court extended the pre-trial detention of Vagifgizi for an additional three months on September 7, 2024. As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation. After her defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 9, Vagifgizi received the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2024 Anti-Corruption Champions award.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes began the criminal trial against Vagifgizi.

In February 2024, four AbzasMedia journalists, including Vagifgizi, refused to attend their trial, citing degrading prison conditions such as being transported in overcrowded vehicles and held in cold, smoke-filled basement rooms at the courthouse. Their lawyer, Elchin Sadygov, argued that these conditions are harmful for their health and violate the law.

She was sentenced to nine years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Aziz Orujov

	Age: 41
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: November 27, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Unauthorized construction or installation work.
	Status: Sentenced to two years in prison

Aziz Orujov is the founder and director of the first internet television in Azerbaijan, Kanal 13. Its YouTube channel has up to two million subscribers and publishes content in English. The channel covers sensitive topics such as protests and human rights violations and gives an online platform for the opposition to express their views. In the past, Orujov faced arbitrary detention and was admitted as a prisoner of conscience in connection to his 2017 conviction of abusing official powers and illegal entrepreneurship.

Before his detention, on November 26, 2023, police searched Orujov’s house and offices. They later also searched his car. On November 27, 2023, the Sabayil District Police Department’s eight police officers, seven of whom were wearing masks, arrested Orujov at his home, in front of his minor child. Police searched his house and the office. They seized documents and USB sticks from Kanal 13’s office. They also took two laptops, a cell phone, materials, and bank cards from his home.

On December 1, 2023, the Sabail District Court placed Orujov under three months of pre-trial detention. Initially charged with alleged unauthorized construction or installation work, on December 19, authorities pressed against Orujov additional charges  accusing him of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. On December 21, 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sought a court order to block access to Kanal 13. The court also blocked the bank accounts of Orujov’s family members, including his wife and his mother’s monthly pension card.

On February 21, 2024, his pre-trial detention was again prolonged for a month. In March 2024, the court prolonged his pre-trial detention for another two months.

Orujov’s health has deteriorated significantly since May 14, 2024. As of June 2024, he is in the prison hospital but does not receive adequate treatment. His pre-trial detention has been extended until the end of June 2024.

On June 25, 2024, the Sabail District Court extended his pre-trial detention for another three months to September 27, 2024. The pre-trial detention was prolonged for another three months on September 7, 2024.

On December 10, 2024, the preliminary investigation was concluded and the foreign currency smuggling charges were dropped. The criminal case against him will proceed under Criminal Code Article 188.2, which prohibits unauthorized construction on land without ownership rights.

On December 25, 2024, the Baku Court of Graves Crimes began criminal proceedings against Orujov.

On February 26, 2025, he was sentenced to two years in prison.

Nargiz Absalamova

	Age: 25
	Occupation: Journalist.
	Arrested: November 30, 2023.
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison

Nargiz Absalamova is an independent journalist who worked with Abzas Media. She was severely injured and left unable to walk after she was assaulted by police during a protest in December 2021 against the new media law.

On November 30, 2023, Absalamova was summoned to the Baku Main Police Department as a witness in connection to the arrest of Ulvi Hasanli, Mahhamad Kakelov, and Sevinj Vagifgizi under charges of conspiring to bring money into the country unlawfully. After being summoned for questioning, Absalamova was detained and charged with smuggling. On December 1, 2023, the Khatai District Court placed Absalamova under three months of pre-trial detention. On December 26, the Khatai District Court dismissed the motion of her lawyer concerning transferring Absalamova under house arrest.

Absalamova is kept in inadequate prison conditions. She has a spinal injury and is experiencing back pain because of the lack of an orthopedic mattress. She does not have enough water to maintain adequate hygiene. Authorities banned her phone calls with the family and a lawyer.

On March 1, 2024, during a hearing at the Baku Court of Appeal, plainclothes prison guards interfered with Absalamova’s right to a defense. They denied her right to speak with her lawyer in the courtroom, claiming Absalamova could not meet with her lawyer without a judge present. The guards also refused to let Absalamova exit the defendant’s cage during the hearing after she received permission from the judge.

In June, the court prolonged her detention term for another three months.

On August 16, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Absalamova including illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

The Khatai District Court extended the pre-trial detention of Absalamova for an additional three months on September 7, 2024. As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation. After her defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Absalamova.

In February 2024, four AbzasMedia journalists, including Absalamova, refused to attend their trial, citing degrading prison conditions such as being transported in overcrowded vehicles and held in cold, smoke-filled basement rooms at the courthouse. Their lawyer, Elchin Sadygov, argued that these conditions are harmful for their health and violate the law.

She was sentenced to eight years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Ilhamiz Guliyev

	Age: 41
	Occupation: Lawyer and human rights activist
	Arrested: December 4, 2023.
	Charges: ·     Illegal acquisition, storage, production, processing, and transportation of narcotic drugs without intent to sell
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to three years in prison

Ilhamiz Guliyev is a lawyer from the Aghdam region. At the beginning of his career, he briefly worked for the government as an investigative assistant with the police but resigned and started working as a program manager at the Institute for Citizens’ Rights. He provided legal counseling and assistance to various vulnerable groups, including the families of war dead and veterans. Since 2021, Guliyev offered legal help to residents of the Agdam region.

In early October 2023, the court sentenced Guliyev to 30 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying the police and petty hooliganism, a few days after giving an anonymous interview to Abzas Media about how the police planted drugs on critics. Authorities also banned his travels. Despite his anonymity in the interview, Guliyev was identified and subsequently arrested.

On December 4, 2023, the Yasamal district police department detained Guliyev. He was held in the Yasamal district police department under charges of large-scale drug trafficking. During the arrest, allegedly Guliyev suffered a head injury and was tortured by the police in detention.

On December 6, 2023, the Yasamal district court remanded Guliyev to four months of pre-trial detention. Authorities banned his family from visiting him in prison. On April 3, 2024, the court prolonged his pre-trial detention for another 20 days.

On May 2, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began hearings in the criminal case against Guliyev. The final witness on the case is expected to be questioned on September 12, 2024.

On December 12, 2024, the Baku Court for Serious Crimes reclassified the initial charges of large-scale drug trafficking under the more lenient Criminal Code Article 234.1-1 (illegal acquisition, storage, production, processing, and transportation of narcotic drugs without intent to sell) and sentenced Guliyev to three years in prison.

Arshad Ibrahimov

	Age: 61
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: December 8, 2023
	Charges: ·       Extortion by threats.
	Status: Detained at Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Arshad Ibrahimov is the founder of news website Dunyani Sesi. In 2014, authorities detained Ibrahimov based on the complaint of Mohammed Bagirov, the former head of the Department of Education of the Kelbajar region. Later, Bagirov was detained on charges of corruption. Ibrahimov was charged with “extortion by threats” and sentenced to 10 years. In 2016, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence to five years.

On December 8, 2023, the Main Organized Crimes Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs detained Ibrahimov under charges of “extortion by threats, committed repeatedly.” He was remanded to four months of pre-trial detention.

Teymur Karimov

	Age: 36
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: December 11, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Extortion by threats. ·       Large-scale extortion
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison and banned from journalism activities for two years.

Teymur Karimov is a founder of the independent YouTube news channel Kanal-11. The channel covers various social and political issues, including corruption in the western Dashkasan District and the treatment of military veterans by Azerbaijani authorities. In connection to his journalism, Karimov was harassed several times. In 2022, he was arrested in front of a government building. In 2020, he was beaten after conducting an interview. In July 2023, when he broadcasted a critical video report on Dashkesan District Executive Head, he was summoned to the police station under various pretexts. He also received phone calls requesting that he stop video reporting.

On December 11, 2023, the Anti-Organized Crime Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs arrested Karimov and his whereabouts were unknown until the next day when the Ministry confirmed his detention to his editorial office. According to officials, he was charged with extortion. Allegedly, after the arrest, he was subjected to physical pressure. On December 12, 2023, the Narimanovsky District Court remanded Karimov to four months of pre-trial detention.

On April 5, 2024, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes began hearings in the criminal case against Karimov.

On December 28, 2024, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Karimov to eight years in prison. The court banned him from conducting journalism activities for two years.

Ibrahim Humbatov (Ibrahim Gubadoglu)

	Age: N/A
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: December 11, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Extortion by threats.
	Status: Location unknown.

Ibrahim Humbatov is the head of the news website Azerinfo.az. The news website recently published critical articles on high-ranking Azerbaijani officials.

On December 11, 2023, authorities detained Humbatov (also known as Ibrahim Gubadoglu). Allegedly, the police received complaints from the concerned citizens. Humbatov was charged with “extortion by threats.” According to of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Humbatov was “spreading various disgraceful news about individuals and demanding money in exchange for deleting that news later.” The Narimanov District Court remanded Humbatov to four months of pre-trial detention.

Mohyeddin Orucov

	Age: 23
	Occupation: Labor rights activist
	Arrested: December 13, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Large-scale drug trafficking.
	Status: Sentenced to three years in prison

Mohyeddin Orucov is a civil rights activist. In the past, he was persecuted by the government for his criticism of President Aliyev. On October 18, 2023, Orucov was allegedly summoned and beaten in the 32^nd police station of the Surakhani District Police Department in retaliation for his critical Facebook post. The Surakhani District Court sentenced him to 30 days of administrative arrest and a fine of 200 manats.

On December 13, 2023, the Surakhani District police department detained Orucov under charges of large-scale drug trafficking. After arrest, his whereabouts were unknown to his family. On December 15, 2023, the Surakhani District Court remanded him for four months pre-trial detention. His mother alleged he was threatened when detained and police attempted to coerce him to admit guilt.  In pre-trial detention, Orucov complained about the limitations of his phone calls. On January 29, 2024, the Baku Appeal Court overruled the first instance court’s decision and restored Orucov’s right to phone calls and family visits.

In the pre-trial detention center, Orucov is housed with 19 other inmates in a cell built for ten people, conditions which exacerbate his kidney illness.

Orucov’s pre-trial detention has been extended until June 13, 2024. After another month of pre-trial detention, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began Orucov’s trial on July 24, 2024. Even though the court was open to the public, only Orucov’s mother was permitted to enter the courtroom. In court, he was kept handcuffed in the glass box.

On February 26, 2025, he was sentenced to three years in prison.

In April 2025, Orucov claimed that prison authorities were refusing him medical treatment for his kidney condition.

Hafiz Babali

	Age: 52
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: December 13, 2023.
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison

Hafiz Babali is a well-known investigative journalist. He is also the head of the economic department of Turan News Agency. During his career, he has worked for various news agencies, including Radio Free Europe/RadioLiberty, Meydan TV, the new media channel ASTNA, the anti-corruption portal Open Azerbaijan, and Abzas Media. He has investigated corruption and money laundering of Azerbaijan’s political and financial elite. Because of his journalistic activities, he and his family have been th’eatened and harassed.

On December 13, 2023, in the afternoon, the Baku Police Department detained Babali at the railway station in Baku. He traveled there from his hometown of Sumgayit. Seven or eight police officers searched his apartment in Sumgayit and seized his computer, mobile phone, and some documents. After the search, the police took Babali to the Baku Police Department. Before he was arrested  on November 28, 2023, police summoned Babali as a witness in the Abzas Media case. They asked him about the financing of Abzas Media, which he knew nothing about as he published his investigative journalism, worked remotely, and rarely went to the editorial office.

On December 14, 2023, the Khatai District Court of Baku remanded him for three months in pre-trial detention. He was charged with allegedly smuggling foreign currency.

Babali has a third-group disability. Authorities have now frozen his disability pension card’s account.

On March 7, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku extended Babali’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On April 30, 2024, the Sabail court of Baku rejected Babali’s lawsuit against the ATV TV channel. At the end of 2023, several Azerbaijani media outlets, including ATV TV channel, Qafqazinfo.az, and the “Iki Sahil” newspaper claimed that Babali had “established contacts with foreign foundations within the framework of grant projects, conducted research, and prepared articles on their behalf,” naming several American and European organizations. Babali refuted the claims and sought retraction and compensation for moral damages.

On July 9, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended his pre-trial detention for another two months and seven days to September 20, 2024.

On August 17, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Babali to include illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

The Khatai District Court extended the pre-trial detention of Babali for an additional three months on September 7, 2024. As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation. After his defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Babali.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Tofig Yagublu

	Age: 62
	Occupation: Opposition politician and journalist
	Arrested: December 14, 2023.
	Charges: ·       Large-scale fraud ·       Forgery of official documents.
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison

Tofig Yagublu is a politician, journalist, former deputy chairman of the Musavat Party (2010–2018), and a member of the coordinating center of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF). Because of his political and journalism activities, he was persecuted several times by the Azerbaijani authorities, including being arrested and sentenced to five years in prison for participating in anti-government protests. In November 2015, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Azerbaijan violated international law by imprisoning Yagublu. He was pardoned several months later. In 2020, he was charged with hooliganism and sentenced to four years and three months in prison. In 2021, he was allegedly beaten in police custody. He was also subjected to several administrative arrests and persecution.

On December 14, 2023, the Narimanov District Police Department arrested Yagublu when he exited the subway in central Baku under charges of fraud, causing a large amount of damage and forgery of official documents. The police also searched his house. According to his wife, police found 5,000 euros, 2,500 manats [about $1,500], and some US dollars in the house, which the family denies having. The Narimanov Court in Baku remanded Yagublu for four months of pre-trial detention.

On April 6, 2024, the Baku City Court prolonged his pre-trial detention for an additional two months. This was subsequently extended until July 1, 2024.

On June 11, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began hearings in the criminal case against Yagublu. At the June 21, 2024, trial hearing, Yagublu stated he feared being killed by the Azerbaijani authorities.

On November 14, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights announced its ruling in Yagublu et al. v. Azerbaijan. The decision found that the government of Azerbaijan violated of Yagublu’s rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and fair trial when he was detained during the October 2019 protest. The court also ordered Azerbaijan to pay Yagublu compensation for this violations.

On March 10, 2025, he was sentenced to nine years in prison.

On April 1, 2025, Yagublu began a hunger strike to protest his arrest.

Elnara Gasimova

	Age: 27
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: January 13, 2024.
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison

Elnara Gasimova is a freelance journalist working for Abzas Media.

Gasimova was first questioned as a witness in connection to the Abzas Media case in November 2023. On January 13, 2024, the Baku City Police Department summoned and detained Gasimova on charges of smuggling foreign currency. Initially, Gasimova was summoned as a witness in the ongoing Abzas Media court case.

On January 15, 2024, the Khatai District Court in Baku remanded Gasimova in custody for two months and seventeen days. Gasimova was brought to and kept in the court handcuffed behind their back in the glass cage.

Gasimova’s prison conditions raise concerns. The cell where the female detainees are kept at the pre-trial detention center of the Khatai District Police Department is surveilled by the prison authorities via CCTV cameras.

On March 7, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended Gasimova’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months. On July 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court reviewed motions on the transfer to house arrest of Abzas Media journalists. The court denied the motion and left Gasimova under pre-trial detention. On August 10, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku extended her pre-trial detention until September 20, 2024.

On August 16, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Gasimova to include illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

The Khatai District Court extended the pre-trial detention of Gasimova for an additional month and twenty-three days on September 6, 2024. As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation. After her defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Gasimova.

In February 2024, four AbzasMedia journalists, including Gasimova, refused to attend their trial, citing degrading prison conditions such as being transported in overcrowded vehicles and held in cold, smoke-filled basement rooms at the courthouse. Their lawyer, Elchin Sadygov, argued that these conditions are harmful for their health and violate the law.

She was sentenced to eight years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Akif Gurbanov

	Age: 42
	Occupation: Chairperson of Institute of Democratic Initiatives and spokesperson for the Third Republic political initiative
	Arrested: March 6, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Akif Gurbanov is the chair of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives, the co-founder and spokesperson for the Third Republic political initiative, and a former member of the Central Election Commission. Gurbanov and his NGO  previously faced harassment from Azerbaijani officials and pro-government media for their human rights and pro-democracy work, including denial of NGO registration. Despite many requests for state registration, the Ministry of Justice refused to register IDI and the Azerbaijani courts upheld the denials. On April 6, 2016, IDI filed a petition before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). As a result, on May 20, 2021, the ECHR determined that Azerbaijan violated the right to freedom of association by denying IDI’s registration.

On March 6, 2024, the Baku City Main Police Department raided the offices of Toplum TV, IDI, and the Third Republic. Police arrested Gurbanov with the use of physical force and searched his office and the house. Following the search, the police alleged they found 4,367 Euro, accusing Gurbanov to conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Gurbanov denied the charges.

According to various reports, the search and arrest were conducted without a court order.  Gurbanov’s lawyer, Shahla Humbatova, was denied entry into  Gurbanov’s house by the police while they searched it. Six police officers removed her from the front doors of Gurbanov’s house by using force.

On March 8, 2024, the court remanded Gurbanov to four months of pre-trial detention.

On June 3, 2024, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the Khatai Court’s decision on the seizure of property in the offices of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives and the Third Republic by dismissing the defense’s legal arguments that the arrests of these entities’ staff and the seizure of property unrelated to the alleged charges were illegal.

On June 4, 2024, the Third Republic issued a statement where they spoke about the threats Gurbanov, faces in Baku’s pre-trial detention center N1. High-ranking government officials harassed Gurbanov in retaliation for his harsh criticism of the country’s authorities in the Court of Appeals. They demanded that Gurbanov stop criticizing President Aliyev. Allegedly, Gubanov was threatened with torture. It was also reported that prison authorities threatened several other arbitrarily detained people in the case of Toplum TV and the Institute of Democratic Initiatives with the deterioration of their prison conditions if Gurbanov continued criticism of the authorities.

On July 4, 2024, the Khatai district court extended his pre-trial detention until October 6, 2024.

In August 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe announced that Gurbanov was one of three finalists for the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize.

On October 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended Gurbanov’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended his pretrial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Gurbanov. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

Ali Zeynal

	Age: 28
	Occupation: Multimedia journalist, media activist.
	Arrested: March 6, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Ali Zeynal is an independent multimedia journalist from Azerbaijan. Since 2016, he has worked as a reporter, presenter, fact-checker, and trainer for local and international media. He worked for OC Media, and Toplum TV (2016-2018), and was an Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI) activist. Before his arrest, he served as Project Coordinator for the journalists’ program and mentor for young journalists at IDI.

On March 6, 2024, the Baku City Main Police Department raided the shared offices of Toplum TV and IDI. Following the raid, police arrested Zeynal and searched his house, where the police alleged to have found 10,150 Euros and $9,060 USD, claiming Zeynal was conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Zeynal denied the charges. According to various reports, the search and arrest were conducted without a court order.

On March 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court remanded Zeynal to four months of pre-trial detention. On July 3, 2024, his pre-trial detention was extended for another three months, until October 6, 2024. On October 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended Zeynal’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended Zeynal’s pretrial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Zeynal. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of hiring workers without a contract, illegal entrepreneurship, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

 Ramil Babayev

	Age: 27
	Occupation: Project Coordinator at Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI).
	Arrested: March 6, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Ramil Babayev is an animal rights advocate and vegan. In the past, he protested the treatment of dogs at the Toplan Care for Homeless Dogs Center and was subjected to police brutality. Before his arrest, Babayev served as a Project Coordinator at the Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI).

On March 6, 2024, the Baku City Main Police Department raided the shared offices of Toplum TV and IDI. Following the raid, police arrested Babayev, who was at the office at the time, and searched his apartment without a warrant, according to reports. The authorities allegedly discovered 2,300 Euros in Babayev’s flat, claiming he was conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Babayev denies the charges.

On March 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku remanded Babayev to four months of pre-trial detention.

In police custody, Babayev started a hunger strike to protest his arrest. According to sources, he was experiencing low blood pressure problems due to a week-long dry hunger strike. He was forced to eat, experienced police brutality at the detention center, and was subjected to humiliation and mistreatment when brought to court.

On July 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended Babayev’s pre-trial detention for three months to October 6, 2024. On October 4, 2024, the Khatai District Court prolonged his pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended Babayev’s pretrial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Babayev. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, hiring workers without a labor contract, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

Mushfig Jabbar

	Age: 39
	Occupation: Multimedia journalist, video editor at Toplum TV
	Arrested: March 6, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Mushfig Jabbar is an independent multimedia reporter and video editor. He worked with various multimedia platforms and news agencies, including RFE/RL and Toplum TV. Before his arrest, he served as a video editor at Toplum TV.

On March 6, 2024, the Baku City Main Police Department raided the shared offices of Toplum TV and IDI. Following the raid, police arrested  Jabbar on his way to work and searched his residence, where they claimed to have discovered 3,200 Euros, claimingJabbar was conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Jabbar denies the allegations against him.

According to numerous reports, the search and arrest were carried out without a court warrant. During the raid, all of Toplum TV’s editorial office employees’ phones were confiscated, and they not only could not contact a lawyer, but also notify the editor-in-chief, well-known journalist Khadija Ismailova, and the founder, Alasgar Mammadli. Allegedly, Jabbar was exposed to psychological pressure while in police custody.

On March 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court remanded Jabbar to four months of pre-trial detention. On July 4, 2024, his pre-trial detention was extended for another three months to October 6, 2024.

On October 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court prolonged Jabbar’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended the pre-trial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Jabbar. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

Ilkin Amhrakhov

	Age: 22
	Occupation: Office manager, group coordinator for Young Managers at Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI)
	Arrested: March 6, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Ilkin Amhrahov is an alumnus of IDI’s Junior Project Managers. Since December 2023, he worked as the office manager and group coordinator for Young Managers at Institute of Democratic Initiatives (IDI).

On March 6, 2024, the Baku City Main Police Department raided the shared offices of Toplum TV and IDI. Following the raid, police arrested Amhrahov and searched his apartment, where the police alleged to have found 2,800 euros , claiming Amhrahov was conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Amhrahov has refuted the claims.

While in police custody, he was exposed to psychological pressure. On March 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court remanded Amhrahov to four months of pre-trial detention While in detention, authorities continue to subject Amhrahov to ill-treatment by forcing him to waive defense counsel.

On July 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended Amhrahov’s pre-trial detention for three months, until October 6, 2024.On October 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court prolonged his pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended pre-trial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Amhrahov. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

On February 19, 2025, the Sabail District Court of Baku heard Amhrahov’s complaint about inhumane treatment during his pretrial detention. The complaint detailed the physical pressure exerted on him when he was taken to the Khatai District Court of Baku in March 2024. On February 21, 2025, the court ruled against his complaint of mistreatment during the Toplum TV case arrest.

Alasgar Mammadli

	Age: 56
	Occupation: Media-rights expert and co-founder of Toplum TV
	Arrested: March 6, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Alasgar Mammadli is an independent lawyer and well-know media-rights expert. He has served as the Deputy Chief of Party for the USAID Azerbaijan New Media Project for the past nine years, offering legal guidance and security to media companies and journalists. In 2016,  Mammadli co-founded independent media Toplum TV which reported on politics, economic and social issues, investigations into official corruption, and allegations of voting irregularities during elections. The editor-in-chief of the TV is well-known journalist, Khadija Ismayilova.

On March 8, 2024, two days after the police raided Toplum TV and IDI shared offices, plainclothes officers detained Mammadli as he exited the Istanbul clinic in Baku, Azerbaijan. The men drove him away in an unmarked vehicle. Later it became known that Mammadli was detained at the Baku City Police Department. Following the arrest, the police searched his apartment, where they alleged to have found 60,000 Euros, claiming Mammadli was conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Mammadli refutes the charges.

On March 9, 2024, the court in Baku remanded  Mammadli to four months of pre-trial detention.

According to the reports, Mammadli has serious health problems, inclduing tumors in his throat, rectum, and prostate that require surgery. He needs hospitalization and medical treatment, which has been denied by the prison authorities.

On June 3, 2024, the Baku Court of Appeal upheld the Khatai Court’s decision on the seizure of property in the offices of Toplum TV by dismissing the defense’s legal arguments that the arrests of the online media staff and the seizure of property unrelated to the alleged charges were illegal.

On July 3, 2024, the court extended Mammadli’s pre-trial detention by three months to October 6, 2024.

On October 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court prolonged his pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended pre-trial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Mammadli. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

Ruslan Izzatli

	Age: 34
	Occupation: The founding board member of Third Republic political initiative
	Arrested: March 8, 2024
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Hiring workers without a labor contract Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income Large-scale money laundering by an organized group Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Ruslan Izzatli is the founding board member of Third Republic political initiative and former parliamentary candidate in 2015 and 2020 election. In 2013, he founded the Democracy-1918 Movement and chaired it until 2021. In 2012-2013, he served as a board member and deputy chairman of the Umid Party.

On March 6, 2024, following the police raid of the shared offices of Toplum TV, IDI, and the Third Republic. Police arrested Izzatli, who was released from police custody around midnight on the same day. Two days later, on March 8, 2024, Izzatli was taken away in a car in front of the Khatai District Police Department. Later it became known that he was detained at the Baku City Police Department. Following the arrest, the police searched his apartment, where they alleged to have found 4,700 euros, claiming Izzatli was conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Izzatli refutes the charges.

On March 9, 2024, the court in Baku remanded Izzatli to four months of pre-trial detention.

Izzetli’s wife claims he has a major health problem. His gall bladder must be operated on and removed. If not operated on his condition could become life-threatening.

On July 4, 2024, the Khatai District Court extended his pre-trial detention for another three months to October 6, 2024.

On October 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court prolonged Izzatli’s pre-trial detention for an additional three months.

On December 27, 2024, the court again extended pre-trial detention until April 6, 2025.

On January 17, 2025, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Izzatli. In addition to smuggling foreign currency, he is facing charges of illegal entrepreneurship, large-scale money laundering, and tax evasion.

Imran Aliyev

	Age: 34
	Occupation: Cyber-security expert and founder of Meclis.Info
	Arrested: April 18, 2024
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Imran Aliyev is a cyber security expert and co-founder of Majlis.Info, a website monitoring the work of the legislative branch of the Azerbaijani government. Since 2007, Aliyev has been involved in election monitoring. In March 2022, Aliyev was harassed and held incommunicado for 20 hours by the Interior Ministry’s Organised Crime Department.

On April 18, 2024, masked individuals arrested Aliyev at Baku airport after he passed through border control and waited to board a flight to Istanbul. He was then turned over to police. Some sources report he was severely tortured in police custody and forced to sign documents.

Aliyev’s arrest occurred shortly after the pro-government website Qafqazinfo published an article claiming an investigation had revealed additional information and evidence in the case of Abzas Media, Toplum TV, the Institute for Democratic Initiatives, and the Third Republic. The article claimed that collaboration between Aliyev and “grant smugglers” had been made public. The article also stated the goals of the “grant projects” were anti-national and were designed to strike a blow at Azerbaijan’s independent foreign policy.

Aliyev was charged with smuggling under Criminal Code Article 206.3.2 in relation to the Abzas Media case. On April 19, 2024, the Khatai District Court set his pre-trail detention for two months and one day. On June 13, 2024, his pre-trial detention was extended for another two months and seven days to August 2024.

On August 22, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku extended Aliyev’s pre-trial detention for three months. On November 18, 2024, his pre-trial detention was prolonged for an additional three months. To protest his arrest, Aliyev went on a hunger strike but halted his protests after three days due to his deteriorated health conditions and back pain.

On February 15, 2025, the court ordered Aliyev in remain in pre-trial detention until May 19, 2025.

Anar Mammadli

	Age: 45
	Occupation: Pro-democracy and human rights activist, the head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre
	Arrested: April 29, 2024
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Anar Mammadli is a human rights defender, pro-democracy activist, and co-founder of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDSC) – an organization that monitors and observes the elections in Azerbaijan. In February 2024, together with several other Azerbaijani civil society members, Mammadli created the Fair Environment Initiative-COP29 to advocate for civil and political rights before and during the upcoming 2024 UN Climate Change Conference in Baku.

Mammadli has previously been targeted for his criticism of the presidential elections and human rights situation in Azerbaijan. In 2008, the authorities refused to register his NGO. In 2014, Mammadli was convicted under politically motivated charges of tax evasion and illegal business activities. In its decision, the European Court of Human Rights held that Mammadli had been prosecuted and punish for his election monitoring activities. In detention, Mammadli received the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize honoring his “outstanding” action in defense of human rights.

On April 29, 2024, men in civilian clothes detained Mammadli on Teymur Aliyev Street in Baku and took him to an unknown destination. It was eventually reported that officials had arrested Mammadli on charges of smuggling foreign currency. After his arrest, law enforcement officers searched the homes of both Mammadli and his parents. The investigators refused requests for a defense lawyer to attend the search. They seized old documents, Mammadli’s sister’s computer, and a flash card.

On April 30, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Mammadli to spend three months and 28 days in pre-trial detention. In detention, Mammadli’s health condition has deteriorated and he developed back pain.

On August 22, 2024, the Khatai District Court of Baku extended Mammadli’s pre-trial detention for three months until November 2024.

On November 20, 2024, his pre-trial detention was prolonged for another three months.

On February 15, 2025, the court ordered Mammadli to remain in custody until May 26, 2025. Mammadli suffers severe health issues, including frequent and intense vertigo. His lawyer reported that he is not receiving adequate medical care in detention, despite repeated requests. He is being denied access to specialized civilian clinics and is not being transferred to a prison hospital or even the detention center’s medical unit. The lawyer’s appeal for house arrest on humanitarian grounds was also denied.

His trial began on May 26, 2025.

Farid Mehralizade

	Age: 30
	Occupation: Expert on economy
	Arrested: May 30, 2024.
	Charges: Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency Illegal entrepreneurship Money laundering of a large sum by an organized group Tax evasion Document forgery Use of forged documents
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison

Farid Mehralizade is a researcher and author of several research papers on economic, social, and  environmental issues in Azerbaijan.

Unidentified individuals abducted Mehralizade and placed a bag over his head as he was on his way to work the morning of May 30, 2024. Later that day, Mehralizade was found at the Main Police Department of Baku. The police later escorted him back home to conduct a search of his residence. During the search, authorities did not allow the family to have a lawyer present and they seized devices belonging to Mehralizade and his wife. Authorities denied Mehralizade access to a lawyer until the end of the day claiming he was not detained but invited to the Main Baku Police Department as a witness.

On June 1, 2024, the Khatai District Court placed Mehralizade under pre-trial detention for three months and twenty days under charges of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency (Criminal Code Article 206.3.2) in connection to the Abzas Media case. Mehralizade denies the charges.

On July 3, 2024, the Khatai District Court denied the motion to release Mehralizade under house arrest and left him under pre-trial detention.

On August 16, 2024, authorities amended the indictment and brought new charges against Mehralizade to include illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.

The Khatai District Court extended the pre-trial detention of Mehralizade for an additional three months on September 6, 2024. As of September 10, 2024, authorities concluded the preliminary investigation. After his defense studies the case materials, it would be forwarded to court.

On December 17, 2024, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Mehralizade.

On January 28, 2025, the Sabail District Court of Baku upheld the prosecutor’s office’s decision not to recognize the inhumane treatment of Mehralizade during his arrest. Mehralizade’s defense team detailed a violent abduction, including blindfolding and beatings, and had requested an investigation into his mistreatment under police custody.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison on June 20, 2025. 

Iqbal Abilov

	Age: 35
	Occupation: An independent researcher of Talysh origin and a human rights defender
	Arrested: July 22, 2024.
	Charges: High treason Making public calls of violence against the state Incitement of national, racial, social, or religious hatred and enmity
	Status: Sentenced to 18 years in prison

Iqbal Abilov is an independent researcher of Talysh origin and a human rights defender. From his early childhood, he lived in Belarus but kept contact with his relatives in Azerbaijan. As a scholar, he researched Talysh culture.

On June 14, 2024, Abilov arrived in Azerbaijan to attend his cousin’s wedding in Masally, a small city in the southeastern part of the country. On June 22, the Special Security Services summoned him to their regional office. After six hours, he was released without any further explanation. On June 27, at the Baku airport, when traveling back to Minsk, his passport and phone were confiscated and he was not allowed to board the plane.

On July 22, 2024, Abilov visited the Masally Regional Office of Special Security Services to retrieve his passport and phone. However, without informing his family, Abilov was brought to Baku on charges of high treason, making public calls for violence against the state, and inciting national, racial, social, or religious hatred and hostility. Authorities claim he had connections with Armenian scholars and worked with the Armenian security services. As Abilov is a researcher with relationships with academic representatives all over the world, he denied the charges.

On July 24, 2024, the Sabail District Court placed Abilov under pre-trial detention for four months. He is kept in solitary confinement at the State Security Services office in Baku where he is not allowed to make phone calls or meet with his family. On November 25, 2024, the Baku Appeals Court extended his pre-trial detention by four months.

On February 26, 2025, the Lenkoran Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Abilov.

He was sentenced to 18 years in prison on May 20, 2025.

 Bahruz Samadov

	Age: 29
	Occupation: Peace activist and political analyst
	Arrested: August 21, 2024
	Charges: High treason
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison

Bahruz Samadov is a peace activist, political analyst, and PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague. He frequently wrote for publications covering the region, including OC Media and Eurasianet, and he was a regular guest on the Caucasus Digest podcast. In his work, Samadov was critical of the Azerbaijani government’s military actions in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Samadov went missing on the afternoon of August 21, 2024, before being taken into custody by Azerbaijan’s security services. His grandmother reported that six people approached her, identified themselves as state security officers, and searched the residence, initially claiming they were seeking drugs but did not find any. The officers took Samedov’s paperwork, diplomas, and two laptops before leaving.

On December 19, 2024, The Baku Sabail District Court extended his pre-trial detention until March 9, 2025.

On February 21, 2025, the Baku Court of Serious Crimes began the criminal trial against Samadov. On the same day, to protest his arrest, he went on a hunger strike.

On June 23, 2025, he was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh)

	Age: 50
	Occupation: Independent journalist, Meydan TV employee
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Aynur Ganbarova (Elgunesh) is a journalist serving as editor-in-chief for the Berlin-based media outlet, Meydan TV. Prior to her arreest, she covered social issues, human rights, domestic violence, and the rights of the child. Ganbarova preiviously worked for a newspaper Daily Azerbaijan (Gundelik Azerbaijan).

On December 6, 2024, the Baku Main Police Department arrested Ganbarova on charges of conspiracy to smuggle foreign currency. Law enforcement officers also searched her home address. Allegedly, police physically mistreated Ganbarova to obtain her electronic devices – laptop and a phone, held her overnight at the police station, and interrogated her without the presence of her lawyer.

Authorities arrested five other Meydan TV journalists and the Deputy Head of Baku Journalism School on the same charges that day.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Ganbarova to spend four months in pre-trial detention. On March 14, 2025, the court extended her pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Natig Javadli

	Age: 53
	Occupation: Journalist at Meydan TV
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Natig Javadli is an independent journalist with over 35 years of professional experience. Prior to joining the Berlin-based media outlet Maydan TV, he wrote for the daily newspaper Bizim yol. Before leaving the newspaper, he interviewed Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, who criticized the Azerbaijan State Customs Committee.

On December 6, 2024, the Baku Main Police Department arrested Javadli on charges of conspiracy to smuggle foreign currency. According to the reports, the law enforcement officers held him overnight at the police station and interrogated him without the presence of his lawyer.

Authorities arrested five other Meydan TV journalists and the Deputy Head of Baku Journalism School on the same charges that day.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Javadli to spend four months in pre-trial detention. On March 14, 2025, the court extended his pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Khayala Aghayeva

	Age: 27
	Occupation: Journalist at Meydan TV
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Khayala Aghayeva is a news journalist working for Meydan TV.

On December 6, 2024, the Baku Main Police Department arrested Aghayeva on charges of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency when she was with her friend, Yunis Rzayev. The police released Rzayev after 25 hours and kept Aghayeva under police custody. According to reports, the police raided Aghayeva’s house and seized electronic devices – a laptop, a phone, and cameras. She was held overnight at the police station, and interrogated without the presence of her lawyer. Allegedly, the police subjected her to psychological pressure to obtain statement which she later refused.

Authorities arrested five other Meydan TV journalists and the Deputy Head of Baku Journalism School on the same charges that day.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Aghayeva to spend four months in pre-trial detention. On March 14, 2025, the court extended her pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Aytaj Ahmadova (Tapdig)

	Age: 31
	Occupation: Journalist at Meydan TV
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Aytaj Ahmadova is a journalist working for Meydan TV.

On December 6, 2024, the Baku Main Police Department arrested Ahmadova on charges of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Accoridng to the reports, the police held her overnight at the police station, and interrogated without the presence of her lawyer.

Authorities arrested five other Meydan TV journalists and the Deputy Head of Baku Journalism School on the same charges that day.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Ahmadova (Tapdig) to spend four months in pre-trial detention. On March 14, 2025, the court extended her pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Aysel Umudova

	Age: 32
	Occupation: Journalist at Meydan TV
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Aysel Umudova is a journalist working for Meydan TV.

On December 6, 2024, the Baku Main Police Department arrested Umudova on charges of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency. Accoridng to the reports, the police held her overnight at the police station and interrogated her without the presence of a lawyer.

Authorities arrested five other Meydan TV journalists and the Deputy Head of Baku Journalism School on the same charges that day.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Umudova to spend four months in pre-trial detention. Under the police custody, her health condiction have deteriorated. On March 14, 2025, the court extended her pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Ramin Jabrayilzade (Deko)

	Age: 37
	Occupation: Journalist at Meydan TV
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N3

Ramin Jabrayilzada (known as Deko) began his career in journalism at one of the first Azerbaijani newspapers, “Azadliq.” After the state authorities banned the newspaper in Azerbaijan, Jabrayilzada continued his professional work at RFE/RL. In 2023, he joined Berlin-based media outlet, Maydan TV. He focused on coverage of all aspects of politics.

On December 6, 2024, the Azerbaijani authorities arrested Jabrayilzada, on his way home from the airport. Police seized his money and said he had entered the country with illegal currency. Jabrayilzada denied the charges and said the police had fabricated the allegations by adding their own money to the amount he had. Authorities arrested five other Meydan TV journalists and the Deputy Head of Baku Journalism School on the same charges that day.

According to the reports, the law enforcement officers held him overnight at the police station and interrogated without the presence of his lawyer.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Jabrayilzada  to spend four months in pre-trial detention. On March 14, 2025, the court extended his pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Ulvi Tahirov

	Age: Unknown
	Occupation: Deputy director of the Baku School of Journalism
	Arrested: December 6, 2024
	Charges: ·        Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Ulvi Tahirov has been Deputy Director of Baku Journalism School since 2005. The school provided training and implemented educational projects for young journalists.

On December 6, 2024, the Azerbaijani authorities arrested Tahirov at his home under charges of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency into the country. According to the reports, the law enforcement officers held him overnight at the police station and interrogated him without the presence of his lawyer.

Authorities arrested five Meydan TV journalists on the same charges that day.

On December 8, 2024, the Khatai District Court ordered Tahirov to spend four months in pre-trial detention. On March 14, 2025, the court extended his pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Rufat Safarov

	Age: 43
	Occupation: Human rights defender, founder of Defense Line
	Arrested: December 3, 2024
	Charges: ·        Large-scale fraud ·       Hooliganism
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Rufat Safarov is a prominent human rights defender in Azerbaijan. He heads Defense Line, an NGO that investigates and reports on human rights abuses, including politically motivated prosecutions, government corruption, and allegations of torture. In 2016, shortly after criticizing the justice system and resigning from his position as a prosecutor, he was arrested and imprisoned for three years. Although pardoned in 2019, he was subsequently detained again for participating in a peaceful protest.

On the evening of December 3, 2024, plainclothes individuals detained Safarov on his way home. Later, he was found at the Binagadi District police department where he was charged for large-scale fraud and hooliganims.

Safarov denied the charges and stated his arrest was connected to his human rights work, specifically the upcoming ceremony where he was to receive the U.S. Secretary of State’s Human Rights Defender Award. His arrest occurred three days before he was set to travel to the awards ceremony in Washington, DC.

On December 4, 2024, the Binagadi District Court remanded Safarov for four months in pre-trial detention. On March 18, 2025, the court extended his pre-trial detention until May 3, 2025.

On April 29, his pre-trial detention was extended.

Azer Gasimli

	Age: 48
	Occupation: Co-founder and director of the Institute of Political Management
	Arrested: December 8, 2024
	Charges: ·        Extortion by threats
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Azer Gasimli is the co-founder and director of the Institute of Political Management, a think tank dedicated to human rights education, advocacy, the role of law in governance, gender equality, anti-corruption policy, public administration, economics, democratic transitions, green politics, and electoral rights. Gasimli holds PhD in Political Science and worked on various topics, including human rights and criticism of authoritarian regimes.

On December 8, 2024, while waiting for his son at football school, Gasimli was approached by plainclothes police officers and detained. Despite requesting permission to call his wife, the police refused. When he protested, they physically restrained him. Gasimli started shouting when one parent intervened, objecting to the police’s actions. During the arrest, Gasimli suffered both psychological and physical pressure and ill-treatment by the police.

Prior to his arrest, Gasimli was subject to a travel ban. He learned of this restriction on November 22, 2024, while attempting to travel to a European country.

On December 9, 2024, the Yasamal District Court of Baku remanded Gasimli for four months in pre-trial detention. On April 3, 2025, the court extended his pre-trial detention by two months.

His pre-trial detention was extended on April 3, 2025. On May 21, his request to be moved to house arrest was denied.

Farid Ismayilov

	Age: 26
	Occupation: Toplum TV journalist
	Arrested: January 17, 2025.
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency ·       Hiring workers without a labor contract ·       Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income ·       Large-scale money laundering by an organized group ·       Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Farid Ismayilov is a journalist who worked for Toplum TV since 2022. His career in media began at Pressklub and Kanal 13, leading him to his current position at Toplum TV.

Prior to his arrest, Ismayilov had been under police supervision since March 8, 2024, facing unsubstantiated smuggling charges alongside eight other colleagues from Toplum TV. Despite warnings from authorities to stop his journalistic work, Ismayilov continued his reporting, leading to the revocation of his police supervision and his subsequent arrest on January 17, 2025 at his home.

On January 17, 2025, the Khatai District Court remanded Ismayilov to two months and twenty days of pre-trial detention.

According to reports, Ismayilov has serious health problems – in 2023, he underwent lung surgery three times.

Shahnaz Huseynova

	Age: 50
	Occupation: Presenter and editor at Toplum TV
	Arrested: February 5, 2025.
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency ·       Hiring workers without a labor contract ·       Illegal entrepreneurship with significant income ·       Large-scale money laundering by an organized group ·       Tax evasion by an organized group
	Status: Under house arrest

Shahnaz Huseynova (also known by her pen name Shahnaz Beylergizi) is a seasoned journalist with 25 years of experience, specializing in human rights, politics, and investigative reporting on corruption. She has held prominent roles at Toplum TV, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and various Azerbaijani newspapers, working as a reporter, editor, presenter, and trainer. She has received multiple awards for her investigative work and live reporting.

Huseynova was detained in Baku on February 5, 2025. Her apartment was searched, and her electronic devices were seized. She was taken to the Baku City Police Headquarters under charges of ” smuggling foreign currency” in a case related to Toplum TV. Under police custody, she experienced a health emergency and needed urgent medical help. Huseynova is diabetic and suffers from high blood pressure.

On February 6, 2025, the Khatai District Court remanded Huseynova to three months and fifteen days of pre-trial detention.

On February 26, 2025 she was released under house arrest.

Shamshad Aghayev

	Age: 42
	Occupation: Editor of Argument
	Arrested: February 5, 2025.
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Shamshad Aghayev is a journalist and editor of the independent media outlet Argument. For years he cooperated with various independent media, including Meydan TV, and hosted a program on Toplum TV. In 2024, Aghayev was identified as a witness in criminal investigations concerning both Toplum TV and Meydan TV crackdown. During his questioning, the Azerbaijani authorities imposed a travel ban on him.

On February 5, 2025, Aghayev was arrested during a pre-dawn raid to search his home. During the house search, law enforcement authorities seized electronic devices, including phones, memory cards, a computer, a modem, and his journalist credentials. Aghayev was taken into custody without being charged with a specific crime..

Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed his arrest under smuggling charges. The Khatai District Court ordered him to be kept in pre-trial detention for two months and one day. On March 14, 2025, the court extended his pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Nurlan Gahramanli

	Age: 28
	Occupation: Anti-war activist, blogger, and freelance reporter for Meydan TV
	Arrested: February 20, 2025.
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Nurlan Gahramanli, known as Nurlan Libre, has been a freelance journalist since 2018. He has faced extensive persecution in Azerbaijan for his anti-war activism and reporting on human rights and political issues. He began his career at Kanal13, where coverage of protests led to his arrests and fines. In 2020, he founded Orange Media, an independent online platform focusing on human rights and political accountability. His anti-war stance during the Azerbaijan-Armenian conflict escalated threats and government summons. In 2023, he was kidnapped, mistreated, and detained again. Facing increasing pressure, he was forced to flee Azerbaijan in late 2023.

On February 20, 2025, Gahramanli was arrested under smuggling charges in connection with the Meydan TV case. Following his detention in Baku, authorities conducted a search of his home in Sumgait, a city outside of Baku. Prior to his arrest, Gahramanli prepared a video, posted by Meydan TV on Facebook, where he detailed his six years of independent journalism, reporting on human rights abuses and election fraud. He described facing repeated persecution, including arrests, threats, and property damage, but affirmed his commitment to journalistic principles.

On February 21, 2025, the Khatai District Court ordered Gahramanli be kept in pre-trial detention for one month and 17 days. Reportedly, his lawyer was absent from the detention hearing.

Fatima Movlamli

	Age: 24
	Occupation: Freelance reporter for Meydan TV
	Arrested: February 28, 2025.
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Detained in Pre-trial Detention Center N1

Fatima Movlamli is an Azerbaijani political activist and freelance journalist who worked with various independent media outlets like Jam News, Mikroskop Media, and Meydan TV. In the past, she conducted solo protests against President Ilham Aliyev’s regime, for which the government has repeatedly targeted her. The harassment included her 2018 kidnapping for five days allegedly by state security services, leaking of her private life photos and videos, hacking of her Facebook account in 2020, and the re-sharing of her private videos in a Telegram group in 2021, alongside similar content targeting other female activists. Independent investigations have also shown that she was a target of Pegasus spyware in early 2019.

On February 28, 2025, Movlamli was arrested under smuggling charges in connection with the Meydan TV case. Reportedly, authorities raided her home, and during the search, seized €2,000 and the phones of both Movlamli and her sister. In their statement, her family denied that the confiscated money belonged to Movlamli.

On March 1, 2025, the Khatai District Court ordered Movlamli to be kept in pre-trail detention for one month and nine days. On March 14, 2025, the court extended her pre-trial detention until July 6, 2025.

Arzu Mammadov

	Age: Unknown
	Occupation: Blogger
	Arrested: January 16, 2024
	Charges: ·       Extortion
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison

Arzu Mammadov (Sayadoğlu) is a blogger who maintains a YouTube channel that is critical of the Azerbaijani government.

In August 2023, a video was recorded showing several local government employees cleaning a municipal building ahead of a visit by the Minister of Culture. Allegedly, any employees who refused to clean were threatened with dismissal. In January 2024, the video was released. At the time a local government official claimed that Mammadov had threatened to release the video for months unless the official paid Mammadov approximately $3,600.

On January 16, 2024, authorities arrested Mammadov. He was subsequently charged with extortion and sentenced to seven years in prison in March 2025.

Mammadov denied all allegations and claimed that not only was the video broadcast elsewhere first, but he did not even make the video as he was not in the town where the visit took place.

 

Fazil Gasimov

	Age: Unknown
	Occupation: Doctoral student
	Arrested: August 8, 2023
	Charges: ·       Counterfeiting
	Status: Convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison

Fazil Gasimov is an economist who was completing his PhD in Turkey in August 2023 when he was arrested by local authorities and extradited to Azerbaijan.

At the time, his arrest was linked to an ongoing investigation against fellow economist Gubad Ibadoghlu.

Under the police custody, Gasimov described to be subjected to torture to force him to sign a false confession against Ibadoghlu. He said that employees of the Main Organized Crime Department put his head in the toilet, electroshocked him, forced him to drink liquid spiked with psychotropic medication, and threatened to rape his mother unless he gave incriminating testimony against Ibadoghlu.

In order to protest his mistreatment and imprisonment, Gasimov began a hunger strike in June 2024 which ultimately lasted more than 3 months.

In April 2024, Gasimov’s case was separated from that of Ibadoghlu. In September 2024, the court rejected Gasimov’s motion to transfer him to house arrest.

The court convicted Gasimov and sentenced him to nine years in prison in March 2025.

Bashir Suleymanli

	Age: 44
	Occupation: Civil society activist and chairman of the Institute for Citizens Rights
	Arrested: March 14, 2025
	Charges: ·       Forgery by an official ·       Legalization of property obtained through crime ·       Abuse of official powers
	Status: Pre-trial detention center N1

Bashir Suleymanli is the chairperson of the Institute for Citizens’ Rights, an NGO focused on strengthening the rule of law and offering free legal assistance and civic education to youth and vulnerable populations. Previously targeted for his human rights activism as a co-founder of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre (EMDSC) with Anar Mammadli, Suleymanli was arrested in 2013 and sentenced to three and a half years in prison on fabricated charges before his release via presidential pardon in March 2015.

On March 14, 2025, Azerbaijani authorities arrested Suleymani under charges of holding illegal contracts with the German Marshall Fund and allegedly receiving funds as personal income rather than grants. The same day the Binagadi District Court ordered he be kept in pre-trial detention for three months and 28 days.

Suleymanli has denied these charges and pleaded not guilty; however, the Baku Appeal Court upheld the pre-trial detention order on March 19, 2025.

Mammad Mammadzade (Alpay)

	Age: 35
	Occupation: Civil society activist
	Arrested: March 15, 2025
	Charges: ·       Forgery by an official ·       Legalization of property obtained through crime ·       Abuse of official powers
	Status: Pre-trial detention center N1

Mammad Mammadzade (Alpay) is a civil society activist and head of the Election Monitoring Alliance. Mammadzade had recently faced harassment from the government. In 2024, his email was targeted by cyberattacks and in February 2025 he was interrogated by police in connection with the criminal case against Anar Mammadli.

On March 14, 2025, Mammadzade was arrested at his home by Azerbaijani authorities. He was accused of holding illegal contracts with the German Marshall Fund and allegedly receiving funds as personal income rather than grants. The same day the Binagadi District Court ordered he be kept in pre-trial detention for three months and 28 days.

Hafiz Hasanov

	Age: Unknown
	Occupation: Civil society activist
	Arrested: March 17, 2025
	Charges: ·       Forgery by an official ·       Legalization of property obtained through crime ·       Abuse of official powers
	Status: House arrest

Hafiz Hasanov is a civil society activist and a lawyer. He led the Law and Development Public Union.

Hasanov was initially detained on March 14, 2025, during a crackdown that led to the arrest of several other civil society leaders. After a brief period of detention, Hasanov was released. However, on March 17, the investigative department of the General Prosecutor’s Office summoned him again and allegedly charged him with improperly processing grants from donor organizations. The accusation specified that he processed these funds under service contracts and received them as personal income rather than as grants.

On the same day, Hasanov was placed under house arrest. On March 19, 2025, the Appeal Court upheld the decision for his house arrest

Anar Abdulla

	Age: Unknown
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: April 8, 2025
	Charges: ·       Illegal entrepreneurship ·       Legalization of illegally obtained property ·       Tax evasion ·       Smuggling ·       Document forgery
	Status: Police Supervision

 

Anar Abdulla (Abdullayev) is a freelance journalist and civil society activist. His activism dates back to 2012 when he joined the NIDA civic movement. In 2018, Abdulla joined the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center and began contributing to gozetci.az and other news outlets. In the past, he was subjected to arbitrary administrative arrests and persecution.

 

Abdulla was charged on April 8 at the Baku Police Headquarters in connection with the case of Anar Mammadli, head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center. Abdulla was charged with illegal entrepreneurship, legalization of illegally obtained property, smuggling, tax evasion (as part of an organized group), and document forgery.

He has been placed under police supervision, requiring regular police visits. Abdulla denied all charges.

Zamin Zakiyev

	Age: 28
	Occupation: Social Worker
	Arrested: April 9, 2025
	Charges: ·       Legalization of property obtained through crime ·       Abuse of official powers
	Status: Pre-trial detention center N1

Zamin Zakiyev is a social worker. From 2019 to 2021, he served as a Manager in the Social Worker and Youth Department at the Azerbaijan Social Work Public Union. In March 2022, Zakiyev founded the “Ubuntu Social Work Association,” where he worked as the Founder and Program Manager. The association focused on enhancing social work education in Azerbaijan by training both new and experienced professionals. The organization arranged free webinars and meetings with international experts and has pioneered the creation and translation of reading materials on inclusive social work in Azerbaijani.

Zakiyev was arrested on April 9, 2025, in connection with the broad NGO crackdown case. He was charged with the legalization of a large amount of property obtained through crime, abuse of official authority leading to grave consequences, and fraud. Prior to his arrest, Zamin was called to testify twice as a witness at the General Prosecutor’s Office.

The Binagadi District Court placed Zakiyev under pre-trial detention until July 13, 2025.

Ulviyya Ali

	Age: 31
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: May 7, 2025
	Charges: ·       Conspiring to smuggle foreign currency
	Status: Pre-trial detention center N1

Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva) is a prominent journalist who worked for Voice of America from 2019 to 2025 until the outlet’s closure. She began her journalism career in 2012 and was highly active on Twitter documenting Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses. Her work was regularly cited by international media.

Ali had been working under a travel ban for several months and repeatedly questioned by police before she was finally arrested during the early morning hours of May 7 during a police raid on her home. Allegedly, she was beaten by police during the arrest.

Ali has been charged with involvement in the case against Meydan TV journalists, despite her never working for the outlet.

Ahmad Mammadli

	Age: Unknown
	Occupation: Journalist
	Arrested: May 7, 2025
	Charges: ·       Hooliganism
	Status: Pre-trial detention center N1

Ahmad Mammadli is the found of Yoldash Media, a digital media platform that documents labor rights violations and political repression in Azerbaijan.

Allegedly, on the evening of May 7, Mammadli shared a taxi cab with two plainclothes police officers who began beating him. They then took him to an unmarked car, continued beating him, and shocked him with an unknown weapon when he refused to provide his phone’s password. He was reportedly tortured so brutally that he sustained serious injuries to his eyes, potentially rendering him blind. He was subsequently ordered to be held in pre-trial detention on hooliganism charges. If convicted, he faces up to 11 years in prison.