Sevinj Vagifgyzy reported physical pressures on female journalists in pre-trial detention centre

Sevinj Vagifgyzy, editor of ‘Abzas Media’, who is detained in Baku pre-trial detention centre-1, has reported physical pressures and discrimination against fellow journalists by the staff.

In a telephone conversation with her family, she said that she was abused for trying to say hello to her colleague Elnara Gasymova.

When Vagifgyzy was on the phone, outside Elnara Gasymova's cell, she wanted to say hello to her through the window in the door. At that moment, a warder named Aygul Babayeva firmly clamped the journalist's hand and pushed her against the wall.

However, other prisoners are not prohibited from such communication, and the female journalists are discriminated against.

In response to the journalists' protests, the warden said that “others are allowed, but you are not allowed”. 

Vagifgyzy, Gasymova and Nargiz Absalamova had previously complained about physical pressures from the warders.

The Prison Service could not be reached for comment.

*In November 2023-January 2024, ‘Abzas Media’ executives and employees Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgyzy, Mohammed Kekalov, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasymova, as well as investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, an employee of ‘Turan Agency’, were arrested. In May, Farid Mehralizadeh, an economist and employee of ‘Radio Azadliq’, was arrested in the same case.

Initially, they were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group of persons by prior conspiracy). However, on 16-19 August, the charges were toughened to Articles 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with large income); 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (legalisation of criminal proceeds by an organised group); 206.4 (smuggling by an organised group); 320.1 and 320.2 (forgery of documents and use of forged documents); and 213.2.1 (group tax evasion) of the Criminal Code.

These charges provide for imprisonment of up to 12 years. The journalists deny all charges, saying that they are being persecuted for investigating corruption in the highest echelons of power.

Human rights activists have recognized them as political prisoners. Many international journalistic and human rights organizations have called these charges far-fetched and have repeatedly called for the release of the journalists.