Court refused to transfer "Abzas Media" journalists under house arrest

On 3 July the Khatai district court considered petitions for transfer of “Abzas Media” director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgyzy and journalist Elnara Gasymova to house arrest. Their lawyers informed about it.

The journalists believe that there are no grounds for their detention. However, judge Sulkhana Hajiyeva rejected the petitions against all three journalists.

The defense lawyers will file appeals against these decisions. The arrested do not plead guilty and link their arrest to their professional journalistic activities.

* Since 20 November 2023, six journalists and media workers of the “Abzas Media” publication have been arrested on charges of “currency smuggling”. They have denied the charges, linking the criminal case to investigations into corruption published in “Abzas Media”.

International media protection organisations called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and to stop the pressure on the media.