The Media Council of Azerbaijan called for respect for journalists' right to work safely.
Authorities and law enforcement must thoroughly investigate cases of attacks on Azerbaijani journalists, and officials and the public should understand the work of the press, said the Media and Broadcasting Council of Azerbaijan.
According to the Media and Broadcasting Council of Azerbaijan, recently journalists have faced attacks and physical violence while filming at the scenes of incidents, and they have been obstructed in their work. The Council condemned such actions and called for respect for the right of press representatives to safely and freely carry out their professional duties.
"The Media and Broadcasting Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan firmly condemns violence against journalists and the creation of obstacles to their lawful professional activities, expresses confidence that the incidents will be promptly, comprehensively, and objectively investigated, and calls on everyone to respect the lawful activities of press representatives, to uphold their right to safely, freely, and unobstructedly perform their professional duties," the council's statement, which was reported today by Report.az, said.
Attacks on journalists threaten their safety and violate the public's right to receive information about socially significant events, the council noted. They also reminded that Article No. 6 of the law of Azerbaijan "On Media" prohibits illegal interference in the professional activities of journalists, pressure on them, and their persecution.
"Caucasian Knot" also reported that independent media employees have been facing criminal prosecution in Azerbaijan for a long time. On October 29 of this year, human rights defenders called for the release of the editor-in-chief of Meydan TV, Aynur Elgyunesh, who requires urgent surgery due to a serious kidney disease. She was arrested in a case initiated in December 2024: initially, journalists were accused of currency smuggling, and later they were charged with seven more criminal articles. Journalists linked the persecution to their professional activities. Despite Elgyunesh's serious condition, on October 26, the court refused to place her under house arrest.
On September 21, the Baku Court of Appeal rejected the petitions of the defense in the case of the independent internet television Toplum TV, including for a new investigation, calling witnesses, and changing the preventive measure for the accused. The founder of the publication, Alesker Mamedli, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on July 27, while editorial staff Mushvig Jabbar and Farid Ismailov received sentences of 13 and 12 years, respectively. Initially, they were charged with currency smuggling, and later new charges were brought under six criminal articles. The defense pointed out that the charges were not supported by material evidence and demanded the acquittal of the defendants.
On April 3, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan rejected the cassation appeals of four journalists from Abzas Media, including editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi. The arrests of the publication's staff, known for investigations into corruption in the country's top leadership, began in November 2023. They were accused of currency smuggling after a search of the editorial office, where, according to the police, 40,000 euros were found, and later additional charges of economic crimes were brought. On June 20, 2025, seven defendants in the case received sentences ranging from seven and a half to nine years in prison; the director of the publication, Ulvi Hasanli, and Vagifgizi received nine years each. The journalists rejected the charges and stated that they were being persecuted for their professional activities and anti-corruption investigations.
The head of the internet television Kanal-13, Aziz Orujev, was released on November 27, 2025, after serving a two-year sentence. He was detained in November 2023, accused of illegal construction and currency smuggling. Orujev did not admit guilt and linked the persecution to his journalistic work. Additionally, in December 2023, the court ruled to block Kanal-13 in Azerbaijan after authorities raised concerns about its publications.