Azerbaijan Sentences Nine Journalists to Long Prison Terms Under Media Law
A court in Azerbaijan sentenced nine journalists from the independent media project Toplum TV to 12-15 years in prison for violating the country's media law, which prohibits foreign financing. Founders Akif Gurbanow and Ruslan Izzetli each received 15 years, while seriously ill media lawyer Alesker Mamedli got 14 years. The journalists were convicted of alleged money smuggling, punished as harshly as treason. The arrests began in March 2024 when police detained nearly the entire Toplum TV editorial team, known for investigations into corruption in ministries and high-ranking officials. This is part of a broader crackdown under Azerbaijan's 2022 Media Law, which requires journalist registration in an electronic register and restricts foreign funding. Other outlets affected include Kanal 13, Meydan TV, and Abzas Media. The verdicts came shortly before EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Baku, prompting imprisoned journalists to urge the EU not to subordinate values to economic interests.
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