New wave of repression in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, a new wave of repression is targeting independent media, as well as journalists, activists, and politicians critical of the government, exposing high-level corruption.

On July 23, prominent economist and politician Qubad Ibadoghlu was arrested in Azerbaijan. Qubad Ibadoghlu is charged under Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code.

On September 21, Afiyaddin Mammadov, the president of the Confederation of Trade Unions, was accused of stabbing a person in front of his house. Afiyaddin claims that the person attacked him, linking his arrest to his activities related to workers' rights. Several members of the Confederation have been arrested throughout the year, with drug charges brought against them.

Since November 20, the government has arrested at least nine journalists on false charges, bringing them to court.

From November 20, the "Abzas case" has been discussed in Azerbaijan's agenda. Initially, the director of "Abzas Media," Ulvi Hasanli, was detained, followed by the chief editor Sevinc Vaqifqizi. The arrest of Mehman Kekalov on charges of smuggling, which remained unknown for three days, was revealed with a comment from the Ministry of Internal Affairs on Facebook. The government media declared them "foreign agents."

On December 1, Nargiz Absalamova, another employee of the channel, was subjected to a three-month pretrial detention as a strict measure. Each of them denied the charges, linking their arrest to their professional activities.

Today, it has been reported that Araz Aliyev, a member of the founding committee of the newly established "III Republic" Platform and a member of the NIDA Civic Movement, has been sentenced to 25 days of administrative detention.