The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the state prosecutor’s request for 11 and 12-year prison sentences for journalists arrested in the “Abzas Media case.”
In a statement, the committee’s program director, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, called the crackdown on independent media “shameful.”
“CPJ condemns the 11 and 12-year prison sentences demanded by Azerbaijani prosecutors for six Abzas Media journalists and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty employee Farid Mehralizadeh on charges of currency smuggling and other financial irregularities. The only “crime” these journalists have committed is courageously investigating corruption. More than 20 independent journalists are currently facing similar trumped-up charges.
The international community must urgently call on Azerbaijan to end this shameful crackdown,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna.
The next trial in the “Abzas Media case” was held on May 20. The public prosecutor requested a total of 80 years in prison for the defendants.
Speaking at the trial held at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, public prosecutor Rauf Malyshov requested that Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli be sentenced to 12 years in prison, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifkyzy (Abbasova) to 11 years in prison, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov to 11 years in prison, journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to 11 years each, investigative journalist Hafiz Babali to 12 years in prison, and Radio Liberty journalist Farid Mehralizade to 12 years in prison.
In addition, the prosecutor requested that each of the defendants be deprived of the authority to hold managerial and materially responsible positions for 3 years.
The public prosecutor also requested the confiscation of economist Farid Mehralizade’s car, which was included in the investigation materials, and a total of 27,987 manats in the defendants’ bank accounts.
English (UK) 
Azərbaycan dili