AP: 9 Journalists and Founders of Independent Media Outlet Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences in Azerbaijan

A court in Baku has sentenced nine journalists and founders of the independent news project Toplum TV to lengthy prison terms on charges of financial crimes. International press freedom organizations have called the case politically motivated and said Azerbaijani authorities are using it to pressure critical media, the Associated Press reports.

Toplum TV founder and director Alasgar Mammadli was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Activists Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli, who served as co-founders of the project, each received 15-year prison sentences. Other journalists and activists linked to the outlet were sentenced to terms ranging from 12 to 14 years.

The charges were related to the alleged illegal receipt and use of funds from Western donors as part of an "organized criminal group." The defendants denied the allegations. Elchin Sadigov, a lawyer for some of the defendants, said the defense intends to appeal the verdict.

"This is an illegal and politically motivated court decision related to their journalistic activities. The court did not grant a single motion filed by the defense," Sadigov said.

Toplum TV was considered one of the last independent news projects in Azerbaijan, a country of about 10 million people. The outlet covered topics such as corruption among officials and social issues. In March 2024, police raided the television station's office and detained several employees.

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) condemned the sentences, calling them "extremely harsh." The organizations said the court's decision confirms the political nature of the trial and is aimed at intimidating journalists.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger called the verdict "blatant government repression and intimidation."

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also condemned the court's decision, calling the trial a sham. The organization said the case reflects growing pressure on independent media in Azerbaijan and demanded the immediate release of the journalists.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has been in power since 2003, when he succeeded his father Heydar Aliyev, the former leader of the Azerbaijani Communist Party and president of the country in the early years after the collapse of the USSR, the American news agency notes.

In 2024, Aliyev was re-elected to a new term, winning 92% of the vote in a snap election. The OSCE said the election took place under conditions of limited political competition.

As AP notes, Ilham Aliyev's rise in popularity in Azerbaijan has been linked to the "military operation" against Nagorno-Karabakh.