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September 20, 2024 – Azerbaijan –
Bahruz Samadov, a prominent researcher, peace activist, and freelance journalist, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a closed‑door trial by Baku’s Grave Crimes Court, following treason charges stemming from his August 2024 detention. Initially arrested on August 21 while visiting family in Baku, Samadov was accused of passing unspecified information to Armenia—charges he vehemently denies. Prosecutors sought a 16‑year sentence; Samadov is reported to have attempted suicide and begun a hunger strike amid trial proceedings, highlighting the dire conditions he faced.
Samadov, born in 1995, holds a doctoral degree from Charles University in Prague and has been a regular contributor to OC Media and Eurasianet. His writings have critiqued the Azerbaijani government’s position on Nagorno‑Karabakh and advocated peaceful resolutions, leading state media and authorities to brand him “anti‑Azerbaijan” and accuse him of subversion.
The charges fall under Article 274 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code—“betrayal of the state”—a provision widely used amid the ongoing repression of independent voices. A CPJ profile notes Samadov is one of around 16 journalists or media workers prosecuted in Azerbaijan since late 2023, marking a widening campaign against dissent. OC Media reports that his trial was held behind closed doors, with only limited familial presence, and his legal team is appealing the sentence.
Human rights groups have condemned the conviction as politically motivated. The hunger strike, attempted suicide, and transfer to a prison hospital underscore concerns over his physical and psychological well‑being . Critics argue the charges seek to silence a powerful voice advocating peaceful dialogue with Armenia rather than committing espionage.
Samadov’s case reflects a broader trend of repression in Azerbaijan, exemplified by similar harsh sentences for Talysh activist Igbal Abilov, journalists at Abzas Media, and RFE/RL’s Farid Mehralizada. As the international community questions Baku’s democratic credentials, Samadov’s long sentence sends a chilling message to independent thinkers and activists.
His conviction highlights the closing space for free speech and dissent in Azerbaijan—and signals an urgent need for international attention and pressure to secure his release and restore rights for civil society and journalists.
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