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March 19, 2025 – Azerbaijan –
In May 2024, Azerbaijani journalist and economist Farid Mehralizada was arrested and has since been detained on multiple charges, including currency smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and document forgery. Mehralizada, a contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), asserts that his arrest is politically motivated, stemming from his critical reporting on Azerbaijan’s economic policies. He has highlighted issues such as the country’s heavy reliance on oil and gas exports and has questioned official statistics on unemployment and poverty.
During his court appearance on April 8, 2025, Mehralizada testified that he was blindfolded and subjected to physical and psychological pressure to unlock his phone. He recounted a police officer telling him, “You’re a young man.. Do you really need Azadliq Radiosu? Just keep your head down and live your life,” indicating that his detention was linked to his journalistic work.
Mehralizada’s case is part of a broader crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan. Since November 2023, at least 20 journalists and social activists have been detained on similar charges, with seven linked to the independent news outlet Abzas Media. Human rights organizations estimate that there are at least 300 political prisoners currently held in Azerbaijani jails, reflecting ongoing concerns about the suppression of dissent under President Ilham Aliyev’s administration.
International responses have included condemnation from RFE/RL and calls for Mehralizada’s immediate release. RFE/RL President Stephen Capus stated, “Farid is being punished for reporting uncomfortable truths about Azerbaijan’s economy. Azerbaijan must end this sham trial and release Farid to his wife and newborn daughter”.
Mehralizada’s situation underscores the risks faced by journalists in Azerbaijan and highlights the challenges to press freedom in the country. His continued detention raises serious questions about the use of legal systems to silence critical voices and the broader implications for human rights and freedom of expression in the region.
Reference –
https://www.voanews.com/a/azerbaijani-journalist-says-he-was-jailed-over-his-work/7911687.html
https://www.ecoi.net/de/dokument/2123928.html
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/i-am-imprisoned-in-azerbaijan-my-crime-journalism
