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January 17, 2025 – Azerbaijan –
Azerbaijani authorities arrested journalists Farid Ismayilov and Elmir Abbasov, intensifying an ongoing crackdown on independent media. The arrests are part of a broader investigation into Toplum TV, a media outlet known for covering corruption and government accountability. Both journalists now face charges of illegal business activities, money laundering, and smuggling—accusations widely criticized as politically motivated.
These detentions come amid a sweeping repression of independent journalism in Azerbaijan. Since March 2024, authorities have targeted Toplum TV, Meydan TV, Abzas Media, and Argument. AZ, accusing their staff of financial crimes. Offices have been raided, websites blocked, and equipment seized. Many journalists have been interrogated, detained, or placed under travel bans.
In December 2024, six Meydan TV reporters were arrested on currency smuggling charges, despite no public evidence. In May 2025, Ulviyya Ali, a journalist for Voice of America, was also jailed after months under a travel ban. The Azerbaijani service of BBC News was suspended by government decree in early 2025, signaling an escalating effort to silence international and local coverage.
The crackdown reached a peak on June 20, 2025, when a Baku court sentenced seven journalists-six from Abzas Media and one from RFE/RL—to prison terms of 7.5 to 9 years. They were convicted on financial charges, though press freedom groups called the trials politically charged and lacking due process.
International condemnation has followed. Organizations like Reporters Without Borders, CPJ, and Amnesty International have urged the Azerbaijani government to drop the charges and release detained journalists. The U.S. and several European governments have echoed these calls, warning that Azerbaijan’s actions are incompatible with democratic norms.
Reference –
https://www.occrp.org/en/news/azerbaijans-media-crackdown-continues-with-new-arrests
Another journalist arrested in Azerbaijan over Toplum TV case
