Abzas Media

Abzas Media was founded in 2016 by a group of civil activists. Ulvi Hasanli was one of them and has been the head of the organization since its inception. He aimed to expose the detrimental effects of corruption on society, highlighting how it increases the power imbalances and socio-economic inequality in post-Soviet Azerbaijan. Before his work at Abzas Media, Hasanli led several pro-democracy youth organizations, including Dalga Youth Movement, the Free Youth Movement, and the NIDA Youth Movement, all of which strive to promote democratic and social change in Azerbaijan.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=Nargiz Absalamova, Hafiz Babali, and Elnara Gasimova of Abzas Media detained on money smuggling charges |url=https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/nargiz-absalamova-hafiz-babali-and-elnara-gasimova-abzas-media-detained-money-smuggling-charges |access-date=2024-05-22 |website=Front Line Defenders |language=en}}

Sevinj Vagifqizi, also a human rights defender and journalist, is the editor-in-chief of Abzas Media. She has played a significant role in uncovering high-level corruption, including allegations involving senior officials and the President Aliyev's family. Vaqifqizi previously worked for nine years as a local journalist with Meydan TV, an independent media outlet operating in exile.

File:Ilham Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva - 2024.jpg and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva have been described as the "embodiment of nepotism and kleptocracy" in Azerbaijan.{{cite news |title=‘I Accuse’ – Azerbaijan corruption exposed |url=https://www.demdigest.org/accuse-azerbaijan-corruption-exposed/ |work=National Endowment for Democracy |date=14 May 2018}}]]

Between 2022 and 2023, AbzasMedia published investigations related to family members of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txU1LvixCOQ |title=İlham Əliyevin kürəkəninə görə köçürülən kənd [Araşdırma] |date=2023-05-18 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOawXIW3fGk |title=Xarici işlər nazirinin ailə sərvəti |date=2023-07-15 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the Deputy Head of the Special State Protection Service, Baylar Eyyubov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n_dahsovrY |title=Bəylər Eyyubovun ailə üzvünün şübhəli sərvəti |date=2023-09-29 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} and the Head of the State Security Service, Ali Naghiyev.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQwVyZ1ibVM |title=Naxçıvanın yeni sahibi - Əli Nağıyev |date=2023-11-07 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} These investigations also included materials about tenders associated with the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and PASHA Holding.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky-pjEOdd98 |title=Prezidentin ailə üzvlərinə məxsus şirkət Ağdamda ev tikir |date=2022-12-06 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cVPQOzXyp4 |title=Yeni araşdırma: Heydər Əliyev Fondunun Şuşanın “satınalma”sındakı rolu |date=2022-11-14 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-siJ_cf3hg |title=ARAŞDIRMA: Prezidentin ailə üzvlərinə məxsus şirkət Qarabağda əkin-biçinlə məşğul olur |date=2022-06-23 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}

Additionally, in the series "Uninvestigated Crimes," reports were published about crimes involving the former head of the subway system, Tagi Ahmadov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oetXsO4B80Q |title="Araşdırılmayan cinayətlər" seriyası: Bakı Metropoliteninin sabiq rəisi Tağı Əhmədov |date=2023-02-17 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the former head of the Baku Slavic University, Nurlana Aliyeva,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53FzUfEiecc |title=200 min manatlıq yeyintidə adı keçən keçmiş rektor... |date=2023-03-16 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the former commander of the Army Corps, Hikmat Hasanov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58xNicOBdgI |title=İşgəncədə ittiham olunan vaxt təltif edilən general Hikmət Həsənov |date=2023-06-08 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the former mayor, Hajibala Abutalybov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE9jHRs8SWY |title=Hacıbala Abutalıbov Ramiz Mehdiyevdən niyə üzr istəyib? |date=2023-06-26 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the former deputy, Elmira Akhundova,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXqlosYZw-s |title=Əfv komissiyasının üzvü olan deputatın adı cinayət işində keçir |date=2023-10-31 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the former minister, Huseyngulu Baghirov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-NZ1bGc0zM |title=Keçmiş nazir "ölü canlar"a maaş yazmaqda ittiham olunub |date=2023-11-10 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} and the current Minister of Finance, Samir Sharifov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1fsNCw9Kp0 |title="Samir Şərifov da məhkəmədə mənim yanımda oturmalıdır" |date=2023-05-26 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} along with Lieutenant General Mais Barkhudarov,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVWrnnRKRKw |title=Kütləvi işgəncə əmri verməkdə günahlandırılan general-leytenant Mais Bərxudarov |date=2024-02-16 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} former MP Ziyad Samadzadeh,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTinSpXc3ls |title=“MTN işi”ndə adı hallansa da, məhkəmədə dindirilməyən sabiq deputat |date=2024-07-26 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Sahil Babayev,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBrPC7fY8jw |title=Həbsində naziri günahlandıran iş adamı təcridxanada özünə qəsd edib |date=2024-03-16 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} and Lieutenant General, former Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Najmeddin Sadikov.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd5Zlqw-GWo&t=2s |title=Araşdırılmayan cinayətlər: 23-cü seriya – Nəcməddin Sadıkov |date=2024-10-22 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}

Furthermore, AbzasMedia actively participated in covering the "{{ill|Söyüdlü incident|az|Gədəbəy hadisələri}}", in the Azerbaijani village of Söyüdlü, Gadabay, preparing materials based on interviews with local residents,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhNpIO9F60s&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=2 |title=Söyüdlü sakini: “Ay prezident, o polislərə əmr verənlərin poqonları sökülməli idi” |date=2023-07-13 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90fuK4xiI_g&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=11 |title=Girişinə qadağa qoyulan kənddən reportaj |date=2023-06-25 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixRqNWty2S8&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=13 |title=Söyüdlü sakini: "Mənim nə qədər ömrüm var ki, 1500 manat cəriməni ödəyim?!" |date=2023-06-23 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqGKDkGOLxU&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=14 |title=Gədəbəy sakini: "Ölümüz var, kəndə buraxmırlar" |date=2023-06-22 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} activists,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKw1WoGwb_0&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=8 |title="Sianid gölü daşsa, çox böyük fəlakətlərə səbəb olacaq" |date=2023-06-28 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghGy-DH7E6k&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=12 |title=Feministlər Söyüdlüdə baş verən həbslərə etiraz ediblər |date=2023-06-23 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} and lawyers.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm7Lq7jI2xc&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=10 |title="Söyüdlü sakinlərini kənddən çıxmağa qoymurlar" |date=2023-06-27 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDUGegBv9U8&list=PLKmk98vly7TRhsksThii8B2SLl8ZUqNva&index=9 |title=“Söyüdlüdə həbs olunanların ailələrin qorxuda bilirlər, çünki onlar təkdir” |date=2023-06-27 |last=AbzasMedia |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=YouTube}} Journalist Nargiz Absalamova faced police intervention while reporting on a protest held by Soyudlu village residents.{{Cite web |title=Jurnalistlər Söyüdlüdən polis zorakılığı ilə çıxarılıb |url=https://abzas.info/en/2023/6/jurnalistlr-soyudludn-poliscbb801df-f/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Abzas.net |language=az}} She was detained along with her colleague, her phone was confiscated, and she was forcibly removed from the village.

{{Seealso|Human rights in Azerbaijan|Media freedom in Azerbaijan}}

On November 20, 2023, at around 7:00 AM, Ulvi Hasanli, the director of AbzasMedia, was detained near his home while heading to the airport for a trip abroad.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-20 |title=Ülvi Həsənli saxlanıldı |url=https://qafqazinfo.az/news/detail/ulvi-hesenli-saxlanildi-418864 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Qafqazinfo |language=az}} Hasanli was taken to the Main Police Department of Baku City and searches were conducted at his residence and the AbzasMedia's office. Zibeyda Sadigova, Hasanli's lawyer, stated that during the five-hour search at the office, police reported finding €40,000. During the search process, a red bruise was observed under Ulvi Hasanli's eye. He informed journalists that the injury was caused by a punch from police officers during his detention. Hasanli also reported that he was subjected to inhumane treatment and torture at the Main Police Department of Baku City, where he claimed to have been punched repeatedly.{{Cite web |last=Mikroskop |date=2023-11-20 |title=Ülvi Həsənli saxlanılan zaman polis zorakılığına məruz qalıb |url=https://mikroskopmedia.com/2023/11/20/ulvi-hesenli-saxlanilan-zaman-polis-zorakiligina-meruz-qalib/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Mikroskop - Qısa, vizual, izahlı |language=az}} He was charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling on preliminary arrangement by group of persons), and a pretrial detention measure was imposed against him.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Vəkil: Ülvi Həsənli həbsinin jurnalist fəaliyyəti ilə bağlı olduğunu bildirir |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7363750.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Voice of America |language=az}}

Later, AbzasMedia's editor-in-chief, Sevinj Vagifqizi, was detained by police at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Abzas Medianın baş redaktorunun hava limanında saxlanıldığı bildirilir |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7363233.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Voice of America |language=az}} On the same day, her residence was searched. Elchin Sadigov, who represents Sevinj Vagifqizi as her lawyer, stated that no illegal items were found during the search. Despite this, a criminal case was initiated against her under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling on preliminary arrangement by group of persons). On November 21, the Khatai District Court imposed pretrial detention on Sevinj Vagifqizi.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-21 |title=Abzas Medianın baş redaktoruna cinayət işi açılıb |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7363794.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Voice of America |language=az}}

File:Ulvi Hasanli.webp was sentenced to 9 years in prison in June 2025]]

On November 23, the Khatai District Court imposed pretrial detention on Abzas Media's assistant director, Mahammad Kekalov.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-23 |title=Məhəmməd Kekalov barəsində 3 ay 27 gün müddətinə həbs qətimkan tədbiri seçilib |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7367400.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Voice of America |language=az}}

In November 2023, after the board and employees of Abzas Media were arrested on smuggling charges, Nargiz Absalamova was also questioned as a witness in the same case on November 23 at the Main Police Department of Baku City.{{Cite web |title=Nərgiz Absalamova şahid qismində dindirildi – Yenilənib |url=https://www.yeniavaz.com/az/news/225047/nergiz-absalamova-sahid-qisminde-dindirildi-yenilenib}} A week later, on November 30, she was summoned again as a witness to the same department but was detained as a suspect.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-30 |title=Nərgiz Absalamova saxlanıldı |url=https://qafqazinfo.az/news/detail/nergiz-absalamova-saxlanildi-420020 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Qafqazinfo |language=az}} She was charged under the same article as the Abzas Media's board —Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling on preliminary arrangement by group of persons). On December 1, the Khatai District Court imposed pretrial detention on Nargiz Absalamova.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-01 |title=Nərgiz Absalamova barədə həbs qərarı verildi |url=https://qafqazinfo.az/news/detail/nergiz-absalamova-barede-hebs-qerari-verildi-420103 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Qafqazinfo |language=az}}

Elnara Gasimova was questioned twice as a witness in connection with the AbzasMedia case—on November 24, 2023,{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7368719.html |title=Jurnalist Elnarə Qasımova Abzas Media işi ilə bağlı dindirilib |date=2023-11-24 |language=az |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=www.amerikaninsesi.org}} and January 13, 2024. During the most recent summons, on January 13, 2024, she was detained as a suspect.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-13 |title=Jurnalist Elnarə Qasımova saxlanılıb |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7438648.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Voice of America |language=az}} On January 15, 2024, she was charged as a defendant under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code, and the charges outlined in that article were formally brought against her. On the same day, the Khatai District Court of Baku issued a ruling imposing pretrial detention on her.{{Cite web |last=Bakupost.az |title=Elnarə Qasımova həbs edildi |url=https://www.bakupost.az/elnare-qasimova-hebs-edildi |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=www.bakupost.az |language=az}}

File:Sevinj Vagifgizi in 2020.jpg was sentenced to 9 years in prison in June 2025]]

After the detention of AbzasMedia journalists Hafiz Babali was summoned to the Main Police Department of Baku City as a witness.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7373489.html |title=Jurnalist Hafiz Babalı “Abzas Media”ya qarşı açılmış cinayət işi ilə bağlı dindirilib |date=2023-11-28 |language=az |access-date=2024-11-15 |via=www.amerikaninsesi.org}} On December 13, Babali was taken into custody by the police, and a search was conducted at his residence by eight police officers alongside an investigator from the Main Police Department of Baku City.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Jurnalist Hafiz Babalı saxlanılıb |url=https://www.amerikaninsesi.org/a/7396333.html |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Voice of America |language=az}} Like other AbzasMedia journalists, a criminal case was initiated against him under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling on preliminary arrangement by group of persons).{{Cite web |title=“Abzas Media” işi çərçivəsində saxlanılan Hafiz Babalı həbs edildi |url=https://baku.ws/incident/abzas-media-ishi-cherchivesinde-saxlanilan-hafiz-babali-hebs-edildi |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=baku.ws |language=az}}

On 20 June 2025, Abzas Media's director Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi and investigative reporter Hafiz Babali were sentenced to nine years in prison. Journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were sentenced to eight years in prison, while the outlet's deputy director Mahammad Kekalov was sentenced to seven and a half years. Independent economist Farid Mehralizade, who gave interviews to Abzas Media, was sentenced to 9 years in prison.{{cite news |title=Azerbaijan Convicts Critics in Relentless Crackdown |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/03/azerbaijan-convicts-critics-in-relentless-crackdown |work=Human Rights Watch |date=3 July 2025}} Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said: "By pressing fabricated economic charges against journalists who exposed high-level corruption, the Azerbaijani authorities are sending a chilling message to anyone in the country who dares to challenge them. ... The political repression in Azerbaijan today is staggering, yet we lack a united, principled stand against it from the international community, in defence of human rights. In stark contrast, major actors like the European Union persist in actively courting President Ilham Aliyev in search of lucrative gas deals."{{cite news |title=Azerbaijan: Seven journalists sentenced in latest shocking crackdown on free speech |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/06/azerbaijan-seven-journalists-sentenced-in-latest-shocking-crackdown-on-free-speech/ |work=Amnesty International |date=20 June 2025}}

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