The Struggle for Press Freedom in Azerbaijan: Journalists Sentenced in Controversial Case
In a move that has drawn widespread condemnation from international media rights organizations, a court in Azerbaijan has sentenced nine journalists from a prominent independent news outlet to lengthy prison terms. This decision is seen as an effort to suppress dissenting voices in the resource-rich nation.
Alasgar Mammadli, founder and director of Toplum online TV, received a 14-year prison sentence in Baku. Activists Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzetli, who co-founded the outlet, were given 15-year terms. Other journalists and activists associated with Toplum TV were sentenced to between 12 and 14 years in prison.
The charges against them include illegally obtaining and utilizing funds from Western donors, allegedly as part of an “organized criminal group.” The accused have denied these charges, and their lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, confirmed plans to appeal the decisions, labeling the case as politically motivated.
“This is an unlawful and political motivated court ruling that is linked to their journalist activities,” Sadigov told AP. “Not a single defense motion has been granted by the court.”
Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani government has reportedly intensified its crackdown on dissent, targeting journalists, activists, and independent political figures. Human rights groups claim that restrictive laws are being used to silence critical voices.
Toplum TV, renowned for its investigative journalism on corruption and societal issues, was one of the few remaining independent media voices in Azerbaijan. In March 2024, its offices were raided by police, leading to the arrest of several staff members.
The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) have condemned the severe sentences, asserting that they reflect the trial’s political motives and the authorities’ intent to intimidate journalists. Anthony Bellanger, IFJ’s general secretary, described the verdict as “pure and simple government repression and intimidation.”
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also criticized the trial, calling it a sham and expressing concerns over the increasing crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan, demanding the journalists’ immediate release.
“This unjust decision highlights how the Azerbaijani justice system is being exploited,” RSF stated. “It has been brought to heel by President Ilham Aliyev to silence the country’s last remaining independent media outlets.”
President Aliyev, who succeeded his father Heydar as leader in 2003, secured another term in 2024 with a sweeping 92% of the vote. This election occurred in an environment described by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe as restrictive, lacking genuine political competition. His popularity surged after Azerbaijani forces reclaimed the Karabakh region from ethnic Armenian separatists, who had controlled it for decades.
