Site managers were not released to house arrest

Sevinj Vagifqizi: “Abzas Media asked why hundreds of millions of tenders are awarded to the companies of the ruling family?”

On May 9, the Khatai District Court heard petitions for house arrest of “Abzas Media” director Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abbasova) editor-in-chief, and Imran Aliyev, head of “Meclis.info” website. Judge Fuad Akhundov heard all three cases, but the court proceedings were held separately.

In all three court sessions, the lawyers said that there is no reason to keep the persons whose rights they are defending in prison. The lawyers stressed that their clients do not intend to avoid the investigation, their places of residence are known, it is the first time they are accused of any crime.

Ulvi Hasanli’s lawyer informed the court that he has a young child under his care.

Imran Aliyev’s lawyer spoke about his client’s torture and violation of his right to defense while he was arrested.

The accused persons themselves said that they did not commit any crime and that they were arrested for their professional activities.

Sevinj Vagifqizi said that the criminal case related to “Abzas Media” is due to corruption investigations conducted by this publication.

He said that tenders for reconstruction and restoration works in Karabakh are awarded to “Pasha Holding”. “Abzas Media” has investigated this and asked why hundreds of millions of tenders are given to the companies of the ruling family. He recalled that “Abzas Media” had an investigation into the properties of Ali Nagiyev, head of the State Security Service.

Ulvi Hasanli also said that they did not commit any crime and that they were arrested on a political order.
Imran Aliyev also said that he is innocent.

In all three trials, the investigator objected to their house arrest. He said that the reasons for the arrest of Sevinj Vagifgizi, Ulvi Hasanli and Imran Aliyev have not disappeared. The investigator claimed that if they are released from prison, there is a possibility of avoiding the investigation and influencing the witnesses.

In all three trials, the lawyers’ petition was not granted. Judge Fuad Akhundov refused to release them to house arrest.

Since November 2023, about 20 journalists and civil society activists have been arrested as part of criminal cases against the media and civil society. Among them are Ulvi Hasanli, the head of the Abzas Media website known for its corruption investigations, Sevinj Vagifqizi (Abbasova), journalists Hafiz Babali, Elnara Gasimova, Nargiz Absalamova, founder of Toplum TV, media law expert Alasgar Mammadli, video editor of the channel. Mushfiq Jabbar, Aziz Orujov, head of “Kanal 13” internet television, and Shamo Eminov, an employee of the channel, Anar Mammadli, head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Education Center, which deals with the observation and analysis of elections, “Majlis. Imran Aliyev, the head of the Info” website, Akif Gurbanov, the head of the Institute of Democratic Initiatives, Ruslan Izzetli, a founding member of the III Republican Platform, and others.

Although the named journalists and social activists were accused in separate criminal cases, all of them were accused of financial smuggling. They are accused of illegally bringing money from abroad to Azerbaijan.

However, none of the journalists and activists claim to be guilty, they say that the criminal cases against them are fake, they are being punished for investigating corruption and criticizing the government.