Sevinc Vaqifqizi

The chief editor of “Abzas Media” website, Sevinc Vaqifqizi (Abbasova), has been detained.

This information was released by her relatives. S.Vaqifqizi was detained at the airport upon returning from abroad and subsequently, a search was conducted at her home. Her lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, has confirmed the information.

S.Vaqifqizi has been charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling). The day before, the director of the same website, Ulvi Hasanli, was also detained, and a criminal case was initiated against him under the same article. Both individuals, U.Hasanli and S.Vaqifqizi, will be brought to trial.

These events draw attention due to the activities of the “Abzas Media” website in the field of independent journalism in Azerbaijan. The site is known for its broadcasts highlighting illegal actions of government officials and issues of public interest. These detentions raise concerns about freedom of expression and the state of media activity in the country. The trial processes of both Ulvi Hasanli and Sevinc Vaqifqizi, and the charges against them, are causing widespread discussions about the protection of human rights and media freedom in Azerbaijan.