2024-04-03 05:18:14
On February 9, the Sabunchu District Court of Baku rejected journalist Nargiz Absalamova’s complaint that she was banned from calling her lawyer.
Absalamova is one of the 6 journalists of the “Abzas Media” Internet publication who were arrested on charges of money laundering.
According to lawyer Shahla Humbatova, the ban was imposed by the management of the Investigative Detention Center, while the investigative body prohibited the journalist from meeting and communicating with the family.
Today’s court session was held without the participation of Absalamova.
* On November 20 last year, the director of “Abzas Media” Ulvi Hasanli was detained. That day, his house and the office of “Abzas-media” were searched, and the police “found” 40,000 euros.
On the same day, the deputy director of “Abzas Media” Mahammad Kekalov was detained, and on November 21, the chief editor Sevinj Vagifqizi was detained. After some time, journalist Nargiz Absalamova was arrested, and on December 13, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali was arrested.
They were charged with Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons who colluded in advance). They face the threat of imprisonment from 5 to 8 years.
International journalistic organizations called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the arrested journalists and stop the pressure on the independent mass media.