Khatai court arrested Nargiz Absalyamova for 3 months

Baku/01.12.23/Turan: On December 1, the Khatai Court of Baku authorized the arrest of Nargiz Absalyamova, a journalist of the online publication AbzasMedia, for 3 months on charges of smuggling by prior agreement with a group of persons (206.3.2) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

The journalist, Absalyamova, declared her innocence, asserting that she was being prosecuted for her journalistic activities. The investigation alleges collusion between Absalamova and three other previously detained AbzasMedia employees – Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi, and Mohammedov Kekalov.

Following Absalyamova apprehension on November 30, her colleagues gathered outside the courthouse, facing police violence.

In response to these developments, the international press protection organization Reporters Without Borders urged the Council of Europe Media Freedom platform to intervene, calling for measures to halt the escalating repression against journalists in Azerbaijan and secure their release. -02D-