The state prosecutor has requested 11 to 12 years of imprisonment for the journalists.
On May 20, during the court hearing on the “AbzasMedia case”, the state prosecutor requested prison sentences for the journalists detained in connection with the case.
During the trial at the Baku Grave Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Rasim Sadikhov, state prosecutor Rauf Malishov requested 12-year prison sentences for Ulvi Hasanli, director of “AbzasMedia,” investigative journalist Hafiz Babali, and “Azadliq” Radio journalist Farid Mehralizada. He also requested 11-year sentences for Sevinj Vagifgizi, the outlet’s editor-in-chief; coordinator Mahammad Kekalov; and journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova.
The prosecutor also requested that the journalists be prohibited from holding positions involving financial or ethical responsibility for a period of three years.
A representative from the State Tax Service called for the approval of a civil lawsuit seeking 64,000 manats in compensation.
The prosecutor also proposed the confiscation of a Kia vehicle owned by F. Mehralizada, 40,000 euros allegedly found in the “AbzasMedia” office, and more than 20,000 manats held in various bank accounts.
Defense lawyers have been granted time until June 10 to present their closing statements.
The trial is scheduled to continue on June 10.
Since November 20, 2023, six members of “AbzasMedia,” a publication recognized for its corruption investigations in Azerbaijan, have been detained in relation to the “AbzasMedia case.” These individuals include director Ulvi Hasanli, his deputy Mahammad Kekalov, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova, and investigative journalist Hafiz Babali. Additionally, in May of the previous year, economist and “Azadliq” Radio journalist Farid Mehralizada was also detained in connection with the case.
Initially, all the journalists faced charges of smuggling. However, in August 2024, the charges in the “AbzasMedia case” were escalated to more severe crimes.
Both local and international human rights organizations view the arrests as politically motivated and continue to demand the release of the journalists and the dropping of charges against them.
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