How did AbzasMedia anger the authorities?

Baku/21.11.23/Turan: In a troubling development, the Azerbaijani government has recently escalated its crackdown on independent media, with a particular focus on AbzasMedia, an investigative news outlet operating within the country. The crackdown has resulted in the detention of AbzasMedia's director, Ulvi Hasanli, as well as the detention of public activist Magomed Kekalov and, most recently, the apprehension of Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, upon her return to Azerbaijan.

Ulvi Hasanli's detention initially raised alarm, as little information was available about his whereabouts. It was later confirmed that he was in police custody at the Baku City Police Department. Additionally, on November 20, both Ulvi Hasanli's apartment and AbzasMedia's office were subjected to searches, during which a sum of 40,000 euros was reportedly discovered in the office. Subsequently, Hasanli was charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to smuggling committed by a group of individuals in collusion.

Magomed Kekalov's arrest followed soon after, as plainclothes police officers took him from his apartment on the same day. Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of AbzasMedia, was detained at the airport while returning to Azerbaijan, and her residence was also searched.

The motives behind these actions remain a subject of concern and scrutiny. Human rights activist Samir Kazimli, speaking on the "Difficult Question" program hosted by Kamran Mahmudov, shed light on the situation. According to Kazimli, the persecution of AbzasMedia forms part of a broader government policy that displays zero tolerance for criticism and seeks to stifle independent media.

"We have all been witnesses to the sustained persecution of independent media and journalists for years," Kazimli stated. As for AbzasMedia, he highlighted the publication's well-established team and its distinguished role in investigative journalism within Azerbaijan.

Kazimli emphasized that AbzasMedia had conducted rigorous investigations into instances of corruption at the highest levels of power, suggesting that these revelations had exhausted the authorities' patience, leading them to take measures to silence the publication.

The mounting pressure on AbzasMedia raises concerns about press freedom in Azerbaijan and highlights the challenges faced by independent media outlets in the country. International organizations and advocates for press freedom are closely monitoring the situation as it unfolds, expressing their deep concern over the government's actions and their impact on journalistic integrity and freedom of expression within the nation.