Tightening of charges against "Abzas Mdia" defendants continues
On 16 August, another "Abzas Media" defendant, Mohammed Kekalov, was charged with seven new charges.
This was reported by those close to Kekalov.
These are the same Articles: 192.3.2, 193-1.3.1, 193-1.3.2, 206.4, 320.1 and 320.2, 213.2.1. of the Criminal Code (illegal entrepreneurship, money obtained by criminal means by an organised group, smuggling by an organised group, forgery of documents and their use, tax evasion by an organised group).
A day earlier, the same charges were brought against other defendants in the case: journalist Nargiz Absalamova and economist Farid Mehralizade.
* Between November 2023 and January 2024, six journalists and media workers associated with "Abzas Media" were arrested on charges of ‘foreign currency smuggling by prior conspiracy’: Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgyzy, Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasymova, Mohammed Kekalov and guest journalist Hafiz Babaly.
In April, Imran Aliyev, head of the "meclis.info" website, and Anar Mammadli, head of the Centre for Election Monitoring and Democracy Education, were also arrested in this case. Subsequently, their cases were separated into separate proceedings.
On 1 June, economist Farida Mehralizade was also arrested in the 'Abzas Media" case.
The arrested do not plead guilty. Human rights activists recognized them as political prisoners. International organisations called for the release of the arrested.
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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