A large group of Azerbaijani journalists condemned the pressure on “Abzas Media”

Baku/21.11.23/Turan: A large group of Azerbaijani journalists issued a statement condemning the criminal prosecution of the heads of “Abzas Media” – Ulvi Hasanli and Sevinj Vagifgizi, as well as activist Mohamed Kekalov, who cooperates with this publication. "For many years, freedom of speech and expression in Azerbaijan has been subjected to merciless repression and threats from the authorities," the journalists said in a statement. Azerbaijan has actually become a country that opposes the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and the conventions to which the country has acceded.

Since 2021, the authorities have set a course for the complete elimination of even those few media outlets that still remain despite the repressive pressure of the government.

This goal is served by the reactionary Law "On Media" and changes in legislation aimed at the brutal suppression of freedom of speech.

The persecution of “Abzas Media,” an independent media investigating corruption by the authorities, which began on November 20, is a clear indicator of the cruel attitude towards the free press, the statement said. The director and editor-in-chief of the publication, Ulvi Hasanli and Sevinj Vagifgizi, were detained on far-fetched charges of smuggling.

Mohammad Kekalov, a public activist cooperating with the publication, was also detained, and there is no information about his whereabouts for more than a day.

The authors of the statement consider the accusations against “Abzas Media” ridiculous and absurd and, call on the Azerbaijani authorities to stop the persecution on false charges and release the detainees.

The authors called on international organizations of which Azerbaijan is a member to take practical steps to stop illegal and repressive actions against freedom of the press.

The statement was signed by about 50 journalists representing the Turan agency, online publications Argument.az , Toplum TV, Meydan.tv , "Basta", RLC channel, “Sancaq TV”, "Az24saat.org ", newspapers “Azadlq,” Kanal-13,  Avasor TV, OV-Media, TIME TV, as well as a group of freelancers. –0D06-