17/04/2026 Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Christophe Lacroix (Belgium, SOC), PACE rapporteur for “Threats to life and safety of journalists and human rights defenders in Azerbaijan”, made the following statement today:
“I am deeply disappointed by the recent decisions of Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court rejecting the appeals of imprisoned journalists from Abzas Media and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), resulting in extremely harsh sentences against them.
I strongly condemn these convictions as an assault on freedom of expression and a transparent attempt to silence independent investigative journalism. These convictions are, regrettably, not isolated incidents, but form part of a broader and persistent pattern of pressure against members of Azerbaijan’s independent media and civil society.
I call on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release all imprisoned Abzas Media staff and Farid Mehralizada, as well as other detained journalists, and to drop all charges against them. I also urge the authorities to cease harassment and intimidation of independent media outlets and civil society and to uphold their international obligations to protect freedom of expression and ensure the right to a fair trial.”
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Following the Supreme Court’s ruling of 3 April, the sentences confirmed against Abzas Media staff are: Ulvi Hasanli – who was shortlisted for the 2025 Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize – as well as Sevinj Vagifgizi, Hafiz Babali and Farid Mehralizade were each sentenced to nine years in prison; Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to eight years; and Mahammad Kekalov to seven years and six months. Also on the same day, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal of Farid Mehralizada, RFE/RL correspondent, who is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence.