Political prisoners

On July 9, the Binagadi District Court extended the pre-trial detention of several individuals arrested under Azerbaijan’s so-called “NGO Case” for an additional three months. Those affected include: Mammad Alpay and Bashir Suleymanli were originally detained on March 14, the same day that Hafiz Hasanov (Legal and Development NGO) and Khalid Agaliyev (Media Law Institute) […]

Court Rejects Extension Appeal of Detained Journalist in the Meydan TV Case On July 8, the Baku Court of Appeal reviewed the appeal filed against the extension of the pre-trial detention of journalist Ulviyya Ali (Guliyeva), who was arrested in connection with the Meydan TV case. The hearing was chaired by Judge Qadim Babayev, who

On July 2, it was reported that three detained journalists from “AbzasMedia” – Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, and Sevinc Vagifgizi – have begun a hunger strike in support of their imprisoned colleague Ulvi Hasanli. According to their relatives, the journalists are being subjected to inhumane treatment and alleged torture at Baku Pretrial Detention Facility No.

On July 2, 2025, the Baku Court of Appeal reviewed the appeals filed by journalists Nurlan Qahramanli (Libre) and Khayala Agayeva against the extension of their pre-trial detention as part of the “Meydan TV case”. Nurlan Qahramanli’s case was presided over by Judge Emin Aliyev, and Khayala Agayeva’s case by Judge Ibrahim Ibrahimli. In both

On June 30, the preliminary hearing in the criminal case against human rights defender Rufat Safarov, executive director of the Defense Line human rights organization, was held at the Baku Serious Crimes Court under Judge Aygun Qurbanova. During the hearing, Safarov’s lawyer Elchin Sadiqov submitted a motion requesting that his client be allowed to sit

Defendants say they are being criminalized for civic engagement, not crimes The latest hearing in the high-profile “Toplum TV case” was held at the Baku Serious Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Elnur Nuriyev. During the trial, defendant and journalist Farid Ismayilov filed a motion for the judge’s recusal, citing his past rulings in politically