Mahammad Kekalov

The deputy director of “Abzas Media” website, Mahammad Kekalov, has been arrested.

The decision was made by the Khatai District Court. According to the court’s decision, a pre-trial detention of 3 months and 27 days has been imposed on M.Kekalov.

Mahammad Kekalov is charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling). This is a continuation of the arrests related to the leadership of the “Abzas Media” website. Two days ago, the director of the same site, Ulvi Hasanli, and the chief editor, Sevinc Vaqifqizi, were also arrested under the same charge.

These events are causing widespread discussions about the state of media freedom and journalism in Azerbaijan. The “Abzas Media” website is known for its independent journalistic activities, and these detentions are considered a serious intervention against freedom of expression in the country. The arrest of Mahammad Kekalov has been met with concerns by human rights defenders, journalists, and public activists, and there are calls for their release. This situation could affect Azerbaijan’s international image and the development of democracy in the country.