“The government should stop targeting independent media” |

Frank Schwabe drew attention to the fact that the attack on Toplum TV took place on the day of the broadcast of the documentary film “Am Abgrund” about Azerbaijan.

“The intimidation campaign against independent media in Azerbaijan continues with the attack on Toplum TV”.

Nataliya Nozadze, Amnesty International’s researcher for the South Caucasus, commented on the news that the police raided the office of the independent Toplum TV in Baku and detained journalists.

“This latest crackdown on independent media is a direct attack on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom and an attempt to silence critical voices. The Azerbaijani authorities target, intimidate and persecute independent media organizations and opposition groups, and show a clear disregard for human rights and the rule of law.”he added.

Nataliya Nozadze says that the Azerbaijani authorities must immediately put an end to the growing pressure on human rights and independent media, and respect, protect, promote and fulfill everyone’s human rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of the media.

The authorities should stop targeting independent media:

“We call on the international community to recognize the urgency and gravity of the situation in Azerbaijan and to put pressure on the authorities to put an end to these pressures. As the country will host the COP29 climate conference this November, it is important to use this international spotlight to demand respect for human rights.

“After the arrest of several journalists and activists in recent months, we are very worried about the harsh arrests of Toplum TV journalists and activists in Azerbaijan”.

The German Embassy in Azerbaijan commented on the arrests of Toplum TV journalists.

The embassy noted that independent media and civil society should be protected.

German MP Frank Schwabe said that the attack on ToplumTV took place on the day of the broadcast of the documentary film “Am Abgrund” (In the Abyss) about Azerbaijan. drew attention:

“Community TV was attacked and more than ten journalists were detained”.

Frank Schwabe is also the author of the initiative to freeze the authority of the delegation of Azerbaijan in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Since the end of last year, about 10 journalists have been arrested or detained in Azerbaijan. Most of those arrested are employees of “AbzasMedia” website. Several employees of the “Kanal 13” website are also in prison on various charges.

Arrests in the “AbzasMedia” case began on November 20, 2023. First, the site’s director Ulvi Hasanli, deputy director, social activist Mahammad Kekalov, and editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi were arrested.

After that, investigative journalist Hafiz Babaly, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were arrested.

Each of them is charged with Article 206.3.2 (smuggling by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code. With this article, they are sentenced to imprisonment from 5 to 8 years.

Journalists associate their arrests with purely professional activities.

On March 6, the police raided Toplum TV’s office and searched the office as well as the homes of several employees of the site. It was reported that 30,000 euros were found in the office, and 2,700 and 3,100 euros were found in the employees’ homes.

Akif Gurbanova, Farid Ismayilova, Mushfiq Jabbara, Ali Zeynala, Ramil Babayeva, Elmir Abbasova and Ilkin Amrahova were charged with 206.3.2 (smuggling).