Court Proceedings of Abzas Media Journalists

On January 21, the Baku Serious Crimes Court continued the trial of the Abzas Media case. The court heard testimony from the director of the publication, Ulvi Hasanly, who rejected the charges against him. Hasanly stated that Abzas Media was engaged in investigations into corruption at the highest levels of government, covering societal issues, and defending citizens' rights. He believes that these activities provoked the authorities' anger towards the journalists.

According to the case materials, there is no evidence confirming the guilt of the journalists. Hasanly claimed that he was blackmailed by the police in an attempt to extract confessions. Despite physical pressure, he refused to reveal the codes to his phone and computer.

Hasanly also stated that the money "found" during a search of the publication's office had been planted by the police. During the investigation, the defense requested a fingerprint analysis of the banknotes, but the request was denied.

Hasanly further requested an end to the inhumane treatment of the defendants in pretrial detention. He described how journalists are forced to wait for hours for meetings with their lawyers and relatives, which is done to prevent the detained journalists from seeing each other. However, Judge Rasim Sadyhov recommended that the lawyers contact the Penitentiary Service.

Another defendant in the case, investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, asked Hasanly if he worked at Abzas Media. Hasanly replied that Babaly did not work there but had written several articles.

The lawyer of another defendant, Farid Mehralizade, requested that conditions be created for the defendant to transfer a power of attorney to his wife. The court granted this request.

The next court session is scheduled for February 11.

*Between November 2023 and January 2024, the leaders and staff of Abzas Media – Ulvi Hasanly, Sevinc Vagifgizi, Mohammed Kekalov, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova – as well as investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly from Turan Agency, were arrested. In May, economist and Radio Azadliq employee Farid Mehralizade was also arrested in connection with the same case.

Initially, they were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group of individuals in advance agreement). However, between August 16-19, the charges were escalated to: Article 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with large profits); Articles 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (legalization of criminal proceeds by an organized group); Article 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group); Articles 320.1 and 320.2 (document forgery and use of forged documents); and Article 213.2.1 (group tax evasion).

These charges carry up to 12 years in prison. The journalists deny all the accusations, claiming that they are being persecuted for investigating corruption at the highest levels of power. Human rights organizations have recognized them as political prisoners, and many international press and human rights groups have repeatedly called the charges fabricated and urged for their release.