Europe-Wide Protests Spotlight Imprisoned Azerbaijani Journalists

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) organised coordinated actions on January 28, 2026, in Paris (France), Berlin (Germany), and Bern (Switzerland) to draw international attention to the plight of 25 jailed journalists in Azerbaijan, underscoring concerns about deteriorating press freedom and government repression. These demonstrations took the form of installation exhibits and symbolic displays that recreated the small, harsh prison conditions alleged to be faced by independent media professionals behind bars. RSF officials said the actions aimed to make visible what they describe as the Azerbaijani state’s use of imprisonment as a tool of censorship.

The protests centred around glass or container-like structures placed in prominent public squares, mirroring the approximate size of the cells occupied by journalists such as Sevinj Vagifgizi, the editor-in-chief of independent outlet Abzas Media, who has been incarcerated for about 800 days. Visitors in Paris and other capitals were invited to peer into these replicas, which contained sparse furnishings and simulated conditions meant to reflect a lack of necessities and isolation. RSF presented the installations alongside soundscapes and visual elements intended to evoke the severe prison atmosphere described by detainees and rights groups.

Vagifgizi, her colleagues, and other Azerbaijani journalists have been imprisoned on charges widely condemned by international media freedom advocates as politically motivated and unfounded, including allegations of foreign currency smuggling and related offences. Critics argue these prosecutions are retaliation for investigative reporting on government corruption and official misconduct, with sentences ranging up to nine years — a pattern that press watchdogs contend reflects a broader crackdown on independent journalism in Azerbaijan.

At the European protests, RSF leaders stressed that restricting media voices and jailing journalists undermines not only press freedom but also public access to information and democratic accountability. Statements released during the events called on European institutions and governments to increase diplomatic pressure and support mechanisms that defend independent journalists and challenge the arbitrary detentions. Participants and supporters highlighted that such international visibility can amplify the voices of those inside prison and hold authoritarian practices to global scrutiny.

The actions in Paris, Berlin, and Bern were part of a sustained advocacy effort by media freedom organisations to mobilise international attention and generate pressure for the release of detained journalists, as well as to challenge the underlying conditions that have led to the widespread repression of independent media in Azerbaijan.