Azerbaijani Journalist Nargiz Absalamova Sentenced to 8 Years in Crackdown on Independent Media

November 25, 2024 – Azerbaijan –

Nargiz Absalamova, a 25-year-old investigative journalist with the independent outlet Abzas Media, has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Azerbaijan in what human rights groups are calling a politically motivated attack on press freedom. Her conviction stems from allegations of “smuggling foreign currency,” a charge that critics say was fabricated to punish her reporting on government corruption and civil unrest.

Absalamova was arrested in November 2023 after covering environmental protests in Soyudlu, a village in western Azerbaijan. Authorities claimed that €40,000 in undeclared cash was found in Abzas Media’s office—evidence widely viewed by rights groups as planted. Alongside Absalamova, several of her colleagues at Abzas Media, including reporters Elnara Gasimova and Ulvi Hasanli, also received prison sentences ranging from 7.5 to 9 years.

Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have condemned the convictions, calling them part of a broader campaign to silence dissent in Azerbaijan. According to Amnesty, Absalamova had been under increasing surveillance before her arrest and had faced harassment while covering protests. Her trial, critics note, was marred by procedural irregularities and lacked transparency.

The crackdown on Abzas Media reflects a disturbing trend in Azerbaijan, where independent journalism is under siege. Since late 2023, at least 15 journalists have been detained under similar financial or anti-state charges. Abzas Media had gained a reputation for its in-depth reporting on government corruption and abuse of power—topics that have increasingly drawn the ire of Azerbaijani authorities.

The international community has called on the Azerbaijani government to release Absalamova and her colleagues immediately. Press freedom organizations argue that her imprisonment is emblematic of a justice system being used to suppress journalism and stifle public accountability.

Absalamova’s case underscores the high cost of truth-telling in authoritarian environments. At just 25 years old, she now faces nearly a decade in prison for doing her job—documenting injustice and informing the public. Her continued detention sends a chilling message to independent media across the region.

Reference – 

Azerbaijani journalist Nargiz Absalamova detained for 3 months amid crackdown on Abzas Media

Meet Nargiz Absalamova, a journalist arrested for reporting on protests in Azerbaijan