Recent Trend Of Detaining Journalists in Azerbaijan 'Deeply Troubling', State Department Says
The State Department reacted to the latest arrest in Azerbaijan's media crackdown. Journalist Hafiz Babali from an anticorruption outlet AbzasMedia, who also works as economics editor at Turan News Agency, was detained yesterday on trumped-up charges before court placed him in pre-trial detention for 3 months.
"The recent trend of detaining journalists is deeply troubling. We continue to urge the Azerbaijani government to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, including those exercising freedom of expression," a State Department spokesperson told TURAN's Washington correspondent.
Like his other detained AbzasMedia colleagues, Mr. Babali faces up to 8 years in prison on currency smuggling charges the outlet dismisses as retaliation for its investigations into senior state officials.
Politics
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Today, the Sabail District Court considered a motion to transfer young researcher Bakhruz Samedov, who is accused of "high treason," to house arrest.
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On January 22, lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova visited journalist Farid Ismayilov at the Baku Detention Center No. 1, who was arrested on January 17 in connection with the Toplum TV case. Ismayilov had been brought in for questioning back in March 2024 and placed under police supervision.
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On February 3, the trial of public activist Nijat Ibrahim will begin in the Baku Serious Crimes Court. This decision was made on Wednesday at a preparatory hearing by Judge Aygun Gurbanova. According to lawyer Zibeida Sadigova, Ibrahim was taken to court in handcuffs. There were guards sitting next to him throughout the whole process.
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On January 23, Hilal Mammadov, a member of the Public Council of the Talysh people of Azerbaijan (PCTP), was summoned to the State Security Service (SSS) of Azerbaijan. As he himself informed Turan, the summons was delivered to him today by officers from the Nizami district department of the SSS.
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