Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Abzas Media

RSF @rsf.org · 12d

#Azerbaijan: Yesterday, out of nowhere, detained Abzas Media journalists Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova & Elnara Gasimova were suddenly transferred to a prison located several hours away from the capital and their relatives. RSF condemns this extra punitive measure and calls for their release.

4 6

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · 11d

Abzas Media’s jailed journalists – editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi and reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova – have been transferred from the Baku Investigative Detention Centre to a penitentiary facility in Lankaran, about three hours’ drive (over 250 km) from the capital.
#FreeAbzas

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · 15d

The jailed director of Abzas Media, Ulvi Hasanli, has sent a letter from prison describing what he says are arbitrary transfers, the theft of his personal belongings, unfair court rulings, and systematic torture of inmates.
shorturl.at/DbACW
#FreeAbzas #AbzasMedia #UlviHasanli #Journalismisnotacrime

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · 15d

The jailed director of Abzas Media, Ulvi Hasanli, has sent a letter from prison describing what he says are arbitrary transfers, the theft of his personal belongings, unfair court rulings, and systematic torture of inmates.
shorturl.at/DbACW
#FreeAbzas #AbzasMedia #UlviHasanli #Journalismisnotacrime

Reposted by Abzas Media

Index on Censorship @indexoncensorship.org · 23d

An Azerbaijani court has upheld harsh sentences against @abzasmedia.bsky.social staff on charges that have been widely condemned as politically motivated & an attack on independent journalism: abzas.info/en/2025/9/az...

Azerbaijani appeal court upholds sentences in “Abzas Media” case

On 9 September, the Baku Court of Appeal held the final hearing in the “Abzas Media case.” The session, chaired by Judge Zaf…

abzas.info

1 2

Reposted by Abzas Media

RSF FR @rsf-interfr.bsky.social · 29d

#Azerbaïdjan : auj, dans le cadre du procès en appel des 7 journalistes arbitrairement condamnés dans l'affaire contre Abzas media, le juge a maintenu les peines initiales allant de 7 ans et demi à 9 ans de prison. RSF dénonce un simulacre de justice honteux et demande leur libération immédiate.

Jusqu’à neuf ans de prison pour Sevinj Vagifgizi et ses collègues : RSF dénonce des condamnations iniques en Azerbaïdjan

Ce 20 juin, sept journalistes azerbaïdjanais dont la rédactrice en chef Sevinj Vagifgizi, ont été condamnés à des peines allant de sept à neuf ans de prison pour des accusations fallacieuses de “contr...

rsf.org

2 4

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · 29d

Sept 9: Baku Court of Appeal upheld the “Abzas Media case” verdict. Our journalists raised signs:
“Aliyev, declare your income!”
“Corruption is a crime, journalism is not!”
“Free media cannot be silenced!”
Prison staff answered with violence.
shorturl.at/Z3sfq

#FreeAbzasMedia

1

Reposted by Abzas Media

Campaign to End Repression in Azerbaijan @endrepression-az.org · 29d

We congratulate journalist Nargiz Absalamova on winning the prestigious Free Media Award from @frittord.bsky.social and @zeit.de 🫶

Absalamova and her colleagues at @abzasmedia.bsky.social deserve this award for their unwavering dedication #FreeThemAll

🔗 free-anar.site/political-pr...

1

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · 29d

Abzas Media journalist Nargiz Absalamova has won the Free Media Award 2025. She’s honoured for courageous reporting on corruption, pollution & social rights, even as she serves an 8-year prison sentence on charges denounced as fabricated.
shorturl.at/9abCt

#PressFreedom #FreeNargiz #AbzasMedia

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Sep 5

At the September 5 appeal hearing in Baku, reporter Nargiz Absalamova, 26, sentenced to 8 years in prison in June 2025, denounced the proceedings as “nothing but a show trial” and revealed that even her bank card with just 13 cents had been frozen.
abzas.info/en/2025/9/de...
#JournalismIsNotACrime

"Abzas Media case": "Who will be held accountable for the years we are forced to spend behind bars?”

On September 5, the Baku Court of Appeal held another hearing in the “Abzas Media case.” The session, chaired by Judge Zafar…

abzas.info

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Sep 4

Court rejected journalist Sevinj Vagifgizi’s motion on conditions at Baku Pretrial Detention. She said inmates face overcrowding, poor ventilation, limited water, and no heating/cooling, but all her requests, including an on-site inspection, were dismissed.
shorturl.at/RDWGh

#SevincVagifgizi

Court rejects Sevinc Vagifgizi’s motion on detention conditions

On 3 September, the Sabunchu District Court in Baku reviewed a complaint filed by Abzas Media’s imprisoned editor-in-chief, Sevinj Va…

shorturl.at

Reposted by Abzas Media

Campaign to End Repression in Azerbaijan @endrepression-az.org · Aug 27

Director of @abzasmedia.bsky.social, human rights defender and journalist Ulvi Hasanli is shortlisted for the @pace.coe.int 2025 Václav Havel Prize, alongside journalists Mzia Amaghlobeli and Maksym Butkevych 🫶

🔗 More about Ulvi: free-anar.site/political-pr...

#FreeAbzas #ClimateOfRepression

2 1

Reposted by Abzas Media

Batumelebi&Netgazeti @netgazeti.org · Aug 26

Georgia's imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of Batumelebi & Netgazeti, has been shortlisted for the 2025 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. She is joined by Ukrainian journalist Maksym Butkevych and Azerbaijani journalist Ulvi Hasanli. The winner will be announced on 29 Sept.
#FreeMzia

1 18 33

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Aug 26

Abzas Media’s jailed director Ulvi Hasanli has been shortlisted for the 2025 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize.
The winner will be announced on 29 September in Strasbourg.
#PressFreedom #HumanRights #AbzasMedia #UlviHasanli #VáclavHavelHumanRightsPrize

Reposted by Abzas Media

RSF @rsf.org · Aug 13

#Azerbaijan: yesterday, on the very first day of their appeal trial, journalists Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova, and Elnara Gasimova once again saw their rights of defense violated. They were notably prevented from hearing the proceedings. This must stop and the journalists must be released.

Azerbaijan: Up to nine years in prison for Sevinj Vagifgizi and her colleagues, RSF condemns outrageous sentencing

On 20 June, seven Azerbaijani journalists, including editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, were sentenced to between seven and nine years in prison on trumped-up charges of “smuggling foreign currency” in...

rsf.org

3 4

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Aug 12

At the Baku Appeal Court hearing in the Abzas Media case, female journalists were pushed and shoved by guards after protesting that they couldn’t hear the proceedings.
Judge Zafar Ahmadov rejected all defence motions.
Next hearing: 26 Aug.

shorturl.at/ztl0M

#PressFreedom #AbzasMedia #HumanRights

1 1

Reposted by Abzas Media

OC Media @ocmedia.bsky.social · Aug 6

Imprisoned Abzas Media editor Sevinj Abbasova and journalist Elnara Gasimova have described harsh prison conditions during a five-day hunger strike in support of director Ulvi Hasanli.

oc-media.org/azerbaijans-...

Azerbaijan’s imprisoned journalists describe conditions during hunger strike

Abzas Media editor-in-chief Sevinj Abbasova and journalist Elnara Gasimova have written letters from prison about their experiences

oc-media.org

3 6

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Aug 5

Ulvi Hasanli, jailed director of “Abzas Media,” has ended his 17‑day hunger strike. He stopped after considering concerns for his relatives’ health and distress over his condition. The scheduling of an appeal hearing in the “Abzas Media” case for 12 August also influenced his decision. #AbzasMedia

Reposted by Abzas Media

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom @ecpmf.bsky.social · Jul 30

Journalists from @abzasmedia.bsky.social are facing abuse, isolation, and denied medical care in Azerbaijani prisons.

ECPMF joins global press freedom organisations demanding justice and compliance with human rights obligations.
www.ecpmf.eu/statement-on...

Azerbaijan: ECPMF Condemns Inhumane Treatment of Abzas Media

ECPMF demands humane treatment for imprisoned Abzas Media journalists in Azerbaijan amid reports of abuse and denial of medical care.

www.ecpmf.eu

1 3

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Jul 29

Abzas Media’s imprisoned women journalists-Sevinj Vagifgizi, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova ended their hunger strike on July 28 (Day 7) due to serious concerns for their parents’ health.
abzas.org/en/2025/7/ab...
#FreeAbzasMedia #PressFreedom #Azerbaijan #JournalistsNotCriminals #AbzasMedia

Reposted by Abzas Media

RSF @rsf.org · Jul 29

#Azerbaijan: RSF condemns a defamatory video posted on July 23 by pro-government media targeting, among others, independent outlets Meydan TV & Abzas, whose 13 journalists remain detained. This harassment must end. Azerbaijan must free all 25 detained journalists. 👇
rsf.org/en/just-beca...

"Just because we do critical journalism doesn't mean the government can tell us we don’t belong here:" Detained Journalist Sevinj Vagifgizi’s warning cry

In a letter addressed to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Sevinj Vagifgizi - the editor-in-chief of the independent media outlet Abzas Media who was sentenced to nine years in prison on fabricated cha...

rsf.org

4 6

Reposted by Abzas Media

RSF @rsf.org · Jul 29

#Azerbaijan: RSF stands alongside eight international organisations in condemning the inhumane treatment of several Abzas Media journalists in detention, including director Ulvi Hasanli and editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi. They must be treated with dignity — and released. jfj.fund/statement-on...

Statement on the ongoing mistreatment of Abzas Media journalists in Azerbaijan - Justice for Journalists

We, the undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists’ organisations, express our deep concern at the escalating mistreatment of imprisoned Azerbaijani journalists from Abzas Media,...

jfj.fund

4 4

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Jul 27

Director Ulvi Hasanli (since July 20) and editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgızı (since July 22) have both reported serious health issues. Hasanli reportedly fainted but wasn’t examined by a doctor for 5 days.
abzas.org/en/2025/7/ja...

#Azerbaijan #PressFreedom #AbzasMedia #Journalism

Abzas Media @abzasmedia.bsky.social · Jul 25

On the fourth day of their hunger strike, three female journalists from “Abzas Media” held in Baku Pretrial Detention Center have released a public statement.

Read their message: abzas.org/en/2025/7/pu...

#FreeAbzas #AbzasMedia #SevinjVagifgizi #NargizAbsalamova #ElnaraGasimova #HumanRights

Reposted by Abzas Media

RSF @rsf.org · Jul 23

#Azerbaijan: ill-treatment, visit bans, solitary confinement... Four journalists from Abzas Media, including editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi, have begun a hunger strike in prison to protest against their conditions of detention. This persecution must stop & they must be released!

"Just because we do critical journalism doesn't mean the government can tell us we don’t belong here:" Detained Journalist Sevinj Vagifgizi’s warning cry

In a letter addressed to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Sevinj Vagifgizi - the editor-in-chief of the independent media outlet Abzas Media who was sentenced to nine years in prison on fabricated cha...

rsf.org

4 9