The court did not satisfy the complaints of journalists in the case of “Abzas Media”

On July 11, the Baku Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Ibrahim Ibrahimli, did not satisfy the complaints of the director of “Abzas Media” Ulvi Hasanli. The same court, chaired by Judge Emin Aliyev, did not satisfy the complaint of investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly. The court left both journalists under arrest. Their lawyers informed the “Voice of America” about this.

Thus, the defense filed appeals against the decisions of the courts of first instance on the refusal to release Ulvi Hasanli under house arrest, as well as on the extension of the arrest period in relation to Hafiz Babaly.

In total, none of the defense's petitions or complaints against “Abzas Media” were satisfied by the court.

Rasul Jafarov, Hafiz Babaly's lawyer, told the “Voice of America,” according to the journalist at the trial, he did not travel to any foreign countries after 2019.

"Babaly himself, speaking in court, said that without leaving the country, it is impossible to smuggle currency across the border. He informed the judicial board that he was not involved in the movement of any contraband currency across the border, nor in its coordination, nor in the delivery to anyone inside the country. The investigation has no evidence of the charges against him.  The charges are trumped up and he should be released immediately. But the court left the journalist under arrest," he said.

Both lawyers stated that they would appeal the court's decision to the European Court of Human Rights in connection with the violation of the requirements of article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to freedom and inviolability).

It should be recalled that on July 9, the Khatai District Court of Baku extended Babali's arrest for another 2 months and 7 days (until September 20), and on July 3 it did not satisfy the request to release Ulvi Hasanli under house arrest.

On November 20 last year,   Ulvi Hasanli, the director of “Abzas Media”, his deputy Muhammad Kekalov were detained; on November 21 - editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizy, on November 30-reporter Nargiz Absalamova, on December 13-investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly and, finally, on January 13-journalist Elnara Gasimova were detained.

They were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling committed by a group of persons by prior agreement), and a preventive measure in the form of detention was chosen against them. The journalists deny the accusations, linking their arrests to corruption investigations published in “Abzas Media.”

Many local and international organizations considered those arrested in this case to be political prisoners and called on the authorities to immediately release the journalists.

The Azerbaijani authorities declare that people are not persecuted in the country for their political views and that all fundamental rights are fully secured.