journalist and editor-in-chief arrested

On February 5, 2025, Azerbaijani authorities detained independent journalist Shamshad Aghayev, editor-in-chief of the online media outlet arqument.az. His residence was searched, and personal belongings, including electronic devices, were confiscated. Aghayev has been charged with smuggling under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, which pertains to smuggling committed by a group of persons in collusion. He has been placed in pretrial detention for two months and one day. 

Aghayev’s lawyer, Shahla Humbatova, contends that there is no basis for his arrest, noting that he was already under a travel ban as a witness in a Toplum TV case. Aghayev denies the charges, asserting that his detention is linked to his journalistic activities. 

On February 6, journalist Shahnaz Huseynova (Beylergizi) was arrested and placed in pretrial detention for three months and 15 days. The journalist affiliated with Toplum TV is facing multiple charges, including engaging workers in any form of employment without a legally binding employment contract, large-scale illegal entrepreneurship, legalization of property through criminal means by an organized group (money laundering); the same actions committed on a large scale; smuggling committed by an organized group; tax evasion committed by an organized group. 

These arrests attest to Baku authorities’ continued relentless crackdown against remaining independent media and journalists in the country. Since November 2023, journalists from several online news platforms, including Abzas Media, Toplum TV, Kanal 13, Kanal 11, and Meydan TV have been targeted with arrests. 

In Azerbaijan journalist gets 15 days in prison over a Facebook post

Anar Abdulla was sentenced to 15 days in prison over a Facebook post, according to OC Media reporting. But the charges pressed against the journalist accuse Abdulla of hooliganism and disobeying the police – the most common charges used against civic activists in Azerbaijan.

On September 14, Abdulla wrote a short post on his personal Facebook profile accusing the heads of administrative offices, of deceiving President Ilham Aliyev, while the people pay the price for it.

According to OC Media, the journalist was summoned to the police on October 5 for a “preventive conversation” however Abdulla was handcuffed and detained. The hearing that took place on October 6, where the journalist was sentenced to 15 days was closed to the local press. 

Speaking to OC Media, Abdulla’s lawyer, Zibeyda Sadigova, said, her client denied both charges. During the hearing, police alleged that the journalist disobeyed police orders and used profane language against the officers. Police pressed charges against the journalist as a result.  

In addition to hooliganism and disobeying police, politically motivated criminal charges used against civil society representatives include drug possession and illegal business activity.