Human rights defenders and public activists called on authorities to stop pressures on "Abzas Media" and other independent media

Baku/24.11.23/Turan: A large group of civil society activists and human rights defenders issued a statement condemning the persecution of "Abzas Media"online publication employees.

It says that the criminal prosecution on charges of smuggling of the "Abzas Media" director and editor-in-chief Ulvi Hasanli and Sevinj Vagifgyzy, as well as activist Mohammad Kekalov, who collaborated with the publication, is unfounded.

The authors of the statement express doubt about the credibility of the accusation that 40.000 euros were found in the office of the publication. The search took place under the full control of the police and the origin of this amount is unknown.

On the other hand, there is no reasonable explanation for the storage of such a large amount in the editorial office of the publication, in a place easily accessible to outsiders.

The violation of the rights of the arrested is also indicated. Thus, Hasanli could see his lawyer only 6 hours after his detention, while he was subjected to physical pressure.

The lawyer, attracted by his family, was able to get to Kekalov only on the fourth day. Kekalov's refusal of this lawyer and refusal to communicate confidentially with him reinforces suspicions that the activist was pressured and subjected to inhuman treatment in order to give confessions.

Journalists and independent media, like "Abzas Media", performing the functions of public control, should not become victims of the deterioration of relations with foreign states.

The authorities should stop putting pressure on "Abzas Media" and other media bodies, not violate the right of journalists to collect information on socially significant issues, not punish them on far-fetched pretexts for their professional activities.

The authors call for an objective investigation into allegations of inhumane treatment of Hasanli after his detention, not allowing a lawyer to see him for several hours, as well as ensuring Kekalov a confidential meeting with a lawyer brought by his family.

There is also a call to release Hasanli, Vagifgyzy and Kekalov.

The statement was signed by about 30 activists, human rights defenders and journalists: Akif Gurbanov, Anar Mammadli, Asif Orujlu, Ayshan Muradzade, Bashir Suleymanli, Elgiz Kahraman, Elmeddin Shamilzade, Emin Abbasov, Abulfaz Gurbanli, Ahmed Ismayilov, Fariz Namazli, Farid Mehralizade, Gulnara Mehdiyeva, Imran Aliyev, Intigam Aliyev, Inara Jamal, Kanan Gayibov , Mammad Mammadzadeh, Murad Rustambayli, Najmin Kamilsoy, Narmin Shahmarzadeh, Rasul Jafarov, Rovshan Agayev, Roya Malikzadeh, Rufat Safarov, Samad Rahimli, Sayyad Yusifli, Subhan Hasanli, Shahla Humbatova, Togrul Ismayilov, Togrul Valiyev, Tural Agayev, Yalchin Imanov, Zakir Bayramov, Zohrab Ismail. –21B06-