Ulvi Hasanli
On November 15, the Baku Appeals Court heard the complaint filed by Ulvi Hasanli, the director of the Abzas Mediapublication, against Baku's pre-trial detention center -1 detention facility and the Penitentiary Service. The complaint concerns poor conditions of detention, inhumane treatment, and restrictions on Hasanli’s rights while in custody. Representatives from both institutions failed to appear in court.
Hasanli told the court that he is not allowed to see his young child. During visits with his wife, he said, 5-6 guards stand near the glass partition and eavesdrop on their conversation. "Our phone calls are monitored, and they don’t even allow calls to my lawyer. In the summer, when the heat was unbearable, they didn’t even open the windows," Hasanli explained.
He also claimed that after he exposed illegal practices at the detention facility - ones he had witnessed - an officer from the Penitentiary Service named Naib struck him on the back, causing bodily harm. Despite the threats to his life, Hasanli said he would continue to raise awareness about the violations in the detention center.
"In the pre-trial detention center water is provided only twice a day. In our block, prisoners are tortured, and we can hear their screams and moans," Hasanli added. However, the court rejected Hasanli's complaint.
*Ulvi Hasanli is one of six journalists arrested between November 2023 and January 2024 in connection with the Abzas Media case. Economist Farid Mehralizadeh was later arrested in connection with the same case.
Initially, all of them were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group of people acting in conspiracy). However, from August 16-19, the charges were upgraded to include Article 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with substantial profits), Articles 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (money laundering by an organized group), Article 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group), Articles 320.1 and 320.2 (forgery and use of forged documents), and Article 213.2.1 (group evasion of taxes). These charges provide for prison sentences of up to 12 years. The journalists deny all accusations.
Politics
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On November 14, a debate took place in the German Bundestag discussing the "horrific" human rights situation in Azerbaijan and COP29. Following the discussions, members of the Bundestag called on the Azerbaijani authorities to release political prisoners, including Gubad Ibadoglu, Anar Mammadli, Samir Ashurov, and all others detained for political reasons. The debate was initiated by Member of Parliament Frank Schwabe. In his speech, Schwabe emphasized that the COP29 conference was being held in Baku against the backdrop of severe human rights violations.
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The short film “Fragments”, by Iqbal Abilov, a Talysh researcher arrested in Azerbaijan, was shown on November 14 at the Madrid Indie Film Festival (MADRIFF) in the capital of Spain. The film was presented by the author's cousin, renowned stand-up comedian Idrak Mirzali-zadeh, who read a letter from Abilov to the festival participants. In the message, Abilov expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make the project possible. He also thanked those who continue to support him during his arrest due to his scientific and public activities. "I hope that justice will prevail soon, my innocence will be proven, and once I am released, I will come to Madrid and watch all the films at the festival," Abilov stated.
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