A court in Azerbaijan has convicted nine journalists and founders of a top independent news outlet on charges of financial crimes and sentenced them to prison. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Toplum online TV founder and director Alasgar Mammadli was sentenced to 14 years in prison by the court in the capital of Baku. It gave 15-year prison terms to activists Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzetli, who co-founded the outlet. Other journalists and activists associated with Toplum TV received sentences ranging from 12 to 14 years. They were charged with illegally receiving and using Western donor funds as part of an “organized criminal group.” They denied the charges and Elchin Sadigov, a lawyer for some of the accused, told The Associated Press they would appeal the verdicts.
The European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ-IFJ) denounced what it called “the extremely harsh prison sentences” to journalists and media actors associated with Toplum TV, noting that “the court’s verdict confirms the political nature of the trial and the authorities’ desire to intimidate and repress journalists who are simply doing their job.” Anthony Bellanger, the IFJ general secretary, described the verdict as “pure and simple government repression and intimidation.” Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, also condemned what it described as bogus trial, saying it reflected the escalating crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan and demanded their immediate release.
President Ilham Aliyev has led Azerbaijan since 2003. He won another term in 2024 with 92% of the vote in an early election. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the vote took place in a restrictive environment with no real political competition.