The court denied Hafiz Babali's request for house arrest
The court denied Hafiz Babali's request for house arrest
Today, the Khatai District Court of Baku rejected the defense's petition to transfer investigative journalist Hafiz Babali to house arrest. The defense argued that the preliminary investigation is coming to an end, and there is no reason to keep the journalist in custody, Rashad Aliyev, Babali's lawyer, told Turan. Moreover, Babali has serious health problems; he is visually impaired. Additionally, his health has also worsened because of varicose veins in his leg. Babali rejects the new charges, as well as the previous one of smuggling, and attributes his arrest to his professional journalistic activities and investigations into corruption.
Babali stated that his connection with “Abzas Media” was solely related to the publication of his investigative reports. An appeal will be filed against the court's decision.
Babali is one of six journalists and media workers who were arrested between December 2023 and January 2024 in connection with the "Abzas Media case."
Initially, they were all charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling by a group of persons in conspiracy). On August 16-19, the journalists faced new charges under Articles 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with large-scale income), 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2 (legalization of criminal proceeds by an organized group), 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group), 320.1 and 320.2 (forgery and use of forged documents), as well as Article 213.2.1 (group tax evasion) of the Criminal Code. These charges carry a prison sentence of 7 to 12 years.
The journalists have denied all the accusations, stating that they are being persecuted for investigating corruption in the highest levels of power.
International media protection organizations have called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and stop pressuring independent media. Human rights defenders recognize those arrested in the “Abzas Media” case as political prisoners.
Politics
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Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who arrived in Baku today, held a press conference at the COP29 climate conference. When asked about the arrested climate activists and opposition figures in Azerbaijan, she stated that Germany advocates for the release of government critics and that she would raise this issue during her meeting with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister. She specifically mentioned the name of Professor Gubad Ibadoglu, a doctor from Dresden University.
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On November 21, climate activists held a series of protests at the COP29 climate conference in Baku. The main themes of the protests included nuclear weapons testing, animal killings, protection of rivers and water bodies, and environmental pollution.
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The General Assembly of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) adopted a resolution on Friday reaffirming its commitment to democratic reforms, regional stability, and European integration amidst escalating geopolitical tensions driven by Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
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Activist Nijat Ibrahim, who was detained in Baku pre-trial detention center-1, inflicted numerous wounds on himself on November 20 in protest against unjustified criminal prosecution, his wife Parvin Ibrahim told Turan. According to her, on November 21, her husband called her and informed her that the day before he had inflicted incised wounds on himself with a piece of mirror. In particular, he cut his throat and ears.
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