A detention order has been issued for Shahnaz Baylargizi (Huseynova), who was arrested in relation to the “Toplum TV case.” The decision was made at the Khatai District Court, where the court upheld the request of the investigation agency (Ministry of Internal Affairs). As a result, the journalist has been sentenced to 3 months and 15 days of detention.
According to lawyer Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, the case was separated from the criminal case of the “Toplum TV case” on January 21. Shahnaz Baylargizi is facing charges under articles 162-1.1 (engaging employees in work without a valid labor contract), 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with significant income), 193-1.3.1 (laundering criminally obtained assets), 193-1.3.2 (when committed on a large scale), 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group), and 213.2.1 (tax evasion – when committed by an organized group) of the Criminal Code. These charges could lead to a sentence of up to 12 years in prison. Journalist Shahnaz Baylargizi was detained on February 5.
Arrests related to the “Toplum TV case” began in March 2024, with those arrested including Akif Gurbanov, the speaker of the Third Republic Platform; Ruslan Izzetli, a member of the platform; Ramil Babayev, Ilkin Emrahov, Ali Zeynal, members of the Democratic Initiatives Institute; as well as the founder of “Toplum TV,” Alasgar Mammadli, and editor Mushfig Jabbar. In January 2025, Farid Ismayilov was also arrested in connection with the case.
Initially, those arrested were charged under article 206.3.2 (smuggling – committed by a group of individuals acting in concert), but later, additional charges under articles 162-1.1 (engaging employees in work without a valid labor contract), 192.3.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with significant income), 193-1.3.1 (laundering criminally obtained assets), 193-1.3.2 (when committed on a large scale), 206.4 (smuggling by an organized group), and 213.2.1 (tax evasion – committed by an organized group) were brought against them. While the previous charges could have resulted in a prison sentence of up to 8 years, the new charges could increase the sentence to up to 12 years.
Since November 2023, around 30 journalists and public activists in Azerbaijan have been arrested on smuggling charges in groups. However, all of them deny the charges, claiming that their actions were related to their professional activities and political orders. Later, many of them faced even more severe charges. According to lists compiled by local human rights organizations, there are currently over 300 political prisoners in Azerbaijani prisons. However, officials typically emphasize that no one is arrested solely for their professional activities or political reasons, asserting that those on the lists have been held accountable solely for the crimes they have committed.
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