CPJ Expresses Concern Over Reports of Abuse Against Hunger-Striking Journalist Ulvi Hasanli

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement expressing serious concern over reports of human rights violations and alleged torture against Ulvi Hasanli, the jailed director of AbzasMedia, who is currently on hunger strike in the Umbaki prison.

According to the CPJ, the reports of mistreatment and legal violations against Hasanli raise serious alarm.

The organization called for the immediate release of Ulvi Hasanli and his colleagues.

Hasanli began his hunger strike on June 26 after being transferred from Baku Detention Center No. 1 to the Umbaki prison. On July 1, his lawyer Zibeyda Sadigova met with him and confirmed that Hasanli had been placed in a punishment cell and subjected to inhumane treatment.

AbzasMedia also released a statement on the same day, calling on President Ilham Aliyev, Justice Minister Farid Ahmadov, Prosecutor General Kamran Aliyev, and Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva to take the matter under immediate consideration.

On June 20, the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinc Vagifgizi, Hafiz Babali, and Farid Mehralizade to nine years in prison, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to eight years, and Mammad Kekalov to seven and a half years in the “AbzasMedia case.”

In November 2023, Hasanli and his colleagues were arrested while conducting corruption investigations. They deny the charges and maintain that the case is politically motivated.

Both local and international human rights organizations have condemned the arrests as politically driven and are calling for the immediate release of all detained journalists.

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