Corruption reigns in Azerbaijan as Supreme Court upholds Abzas journalists’ unjust prison sentences

Serious procedural flaws

On 3 April, Azerbaijan's Supreme Court dismissed the cassation appeals of Abzas Mediajournalists Sevinj Vagifgizi, Hafiz Babali, Ulvi Hasanli, Mahammad Kekalov, Elnara Gasimova and Nargiz Absalamova. The cassation appealsbefore the Supreme Court highlighted the fundamental violations of due process that persisted throughout the trial. Human rights organisations and exiled mediahave reported that access to case materials for independent examination was denied and that unreliable witness testimonies were allegedly obtained under pressure and later retracted. The Supreme Court case was split into three separate appeal hearings without any justification.

During the hearing of the journalists' appeal, the defence emphasised that the prosecution failed to present any credible evidence to substantiate the charges of "foreign currency smuggling" and "money laundering". The lawyers argued that there is no evidence that the journalists transported, hid, or even knew about the 40,000 EUR found in Abzas Media's newsroom during a police raid. The case heavily relies on speculation - namely, alleged professional ties - in place of concrete evidence. Trial observers also report demeaning conduct by judges and prosecutors. The journalists plan to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

"In Azerbaijan, the courts serve to protect Ilham Aliyev's power"

Although three of the journalists did not attend the hearing, their lawyers read statements on their behalf. Abzas Media Editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi addressed President Ilham Aliyev directly: "Mr. Aliyev, stop issuing unlawful instructions to the courts. Let judges make independent decisions in the cases they oversee." The imprisoned journalist did not shy away from addressing the real reason she and her colleagues were in jail: "The person who ordered [our conviction] is Ilham Aliyev - whose family's corruption we exposed."

Investigative reporter Hafiz Babali, who was present in the courtroom, drew attention to the severe health consequences of his detention: "I have been in detention for 28 months and have had no access to my pension during this time. I have serious health problems. I used my pension for medical treatment - now I am denied that."

The crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan

Abzas Media is known for its investigative reporting on corruption among Azerbaijan's political elite. Since November 2023, six news professionals from the outlet have been arrested in connection with the case and were sentenced in June 2025 to prison terms of up to nine years. An appeals court hadalready upheld these sentencesin September 2025. The detained journalists report ill-treatment, inadequate access to food and medical care, and violence by prison staff.

In a separate ruling, the Supreme Court also rejected the appeal of imprisoned journalist Farid Mehralizade, who contributes to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on the same day. Although he is also charged in the Abzas Media case, both Mehralizade and the outlet have repeatedly denied that they have any professional links.

The Abzas Media case is emblematic of the systematic repression of independent media in Azerbaijan, ranked 167th out of the 180 countries and territories surveyed in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index. At least 25 media professionals are currently detained - 24 of them on the basis of currency smuggling charges.