2024-01-30 05:54:35
On January 29, the Baku Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of journalist Nargiz Absalamova, who was arrested in connection with the “Abzas Media” case.
According to the information of lawyer Rovshana Rahimli, the complaint was related to the prohibition of meetings and telephone conversations with the journalist’s family members.
The lawyer said that the investigative ban is based on the fact that the journalist’s communication with his family members can be used “to prevent the exposure of other persons who have committed crimes.” They consider this ban unreasonable.
On January 15, the Khatai District Court sentenced journalist Elnara Gasimova, an employee of “AbzasMedia” website, to 2 months and 17 days in prison. He was charged with Article 206.3.2 (group smuggling) of the Criminal Code.
Ulvi Hasanli, the director of the site, was detained on November 20 of last year in the criminal case related to “Abzas Media”. That day, his house and the office of “Abzas Media” were searched, and 40,000 euros were allegedly found in the office.
Then, on November 20, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov, when he returned from abroad on the night of the 21st, Sevinj Vagifqizi was detained in the plane at the airport. After some time, journalist Nargiz Absalamova was arrested, followed by researcher Hafiz Babali on December 13.
All of the journalists were charged with Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group of persons in advance). The sanction of this article provides imprisonment from 5 to 8 years.
None of them plead guilty, stating that their arrests were related to their professional activities.
International journalistic organizations called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release detained journalists and stop pressure on independent media.
The government of Azerbaijan declares that people in the country are not persecuted for their political views and that all fundamental rights are fully guaranteed.
Voice of America
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