“The Azerbaijani government needed the COP to cover up the question of media freedom”
Three journalists from Abzas Media have been ill-treated in prison while COP29 is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan. Editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi; reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova; and three other colleagues have been in prison for nearly a year.
By Eloïse Layan
November 22, 2024
Editor-in-chief of Abzas Media Sevinj Vaifgizi has been jailed for almost one year. She considers that COP29 is a smokescreen used to sweep freedom of press issues under the rug. (Screenshot: Forbidden Stories)
For Leyla Mustafayeva, the acting editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, currently in exile in Europe, and one of their lawyers – who spoke on the condition of anonymity for security reasons – the COP obfuscates the violations of fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan.
Can you tell us about what recently happened to your three colleagues in detention in Azerbaijan?
Leyla Mustafayeva: On November 14, [2024], contrary to usual, the guards closed all the air vents on the cell doors. In Sevinj’s cell, an epileptic inmate began to feel ill. Nargiz was feeling bad as well in a different cell. About 170 women in the pre-trial detention center started banging on the doors simultaneously to demand fresh air. Sevinj asked a guard to open the little air vent on the door, but she refused. Sevinj put her hand out and said, “I will not let this air vent be closed, even if you break my arm.” The guard slammed the vent shut on her arm.
Now, the prison governor has installed surveillance cameras on the doors of the three separate cells of our colleagues in order to record their behavior – which means those cameras can be used to bring extra charges against them.
Abzas Media journalists have been subjected to ill-treatments since the very first day of their detention. At times, they are not given in-person meetings with their relatives and they are prevented from talking to each other.
Lawyer: I just came back from visiting the pre-trial detention center where the journalists are detained. The girls are now OK but they experienced hard days. I could still see the bruises on Nargiz’s hands: two on her left hand, one on the right hand. It all started because Nargiz had witnessed the prison guards abusing one girl right next to her cell. Nargiz protested, and in retaliation the guards decided to keep all air-vents closed.
All eyes are currently on Baku with the COP29 taking place from November 11 to November 22. Did this event have any impact on press freedom?
Leyla Mustafayeva: We feel that this event is completely keeping freedom of speech in the dark. Ironically enough, the pre-trial center where six of our journalists are detained is very close to the COP29 venue [in Baku’s Olympic Stadium], just 7 kilometers [4,3 miles] away ! The Azerbaijani government needed the COP to cover up the question of media freedom in the country as well, and unfortunately it is working. We even think this was one of the reasons for jailing Abzas journalists: so that they are prevented from having access to the event and from asking [difficult] questions to top officials in front of the world. If our journalists were free, they would have directly questioned state officials about their shady businesses and corruption. And about state officials making fossil fuel deals while we are hosting the COP.
Lawyer: All eyes are on Baku, but our government has stated that COP29 has nothing to do with human rights, and that one should not bring up those concerns here in Baku, calling human rights a domestic issue. But climate-related issues cannot be addressed without respect for human rights because independent civil society, and especially human rights defenders and free media, are the watchdogs that can guarantee a proper fulfillment of the government’s obligations in any area, including climate agreements.
While in detention, Sevinj Vagifgizi, Abzas media editor-in-chief, sent you a few words about COP29. What is her message?
Leyla Mustafayeva: Sevinj managed to pass a letter to us, with one quote about the COP, and she has asked us to publish it during the event. It states: “Dirty money is more dangerous than dirty air.” It means that at the COP, we still should not forget about corruption and money laundering – issues Sevinj was reporting on and that cost her her freedom.
Lawyer: Abzas journalists were arrested for their investigations, especially on corruption. Now, they want to show the government and society that jailing them is not silencing them. Sevinj has been passing on letters. Nargiz has been reporting on poor medical care in the prison. Their editor Ulvi, who is also jailed, has been writing on ill-treatment and torture, and their articles have been published by Abzas media. When I see them, I feel that they are very strong. But of course we want them free.
It has been nearly a year since Abzas journalists were detained. They are now warning about a hunger strike. Are you worried?
Leyla Mustafayeva: They have tried all the legal procedures. They’ve filed a lot of complaints, but none has been successful. They have exhausted all of the legal remedies; a hunger strike is the last [tool] they can use. But yes, I am very worried about it. They are in jail; I know it is [severely] affecting their psychological health. Starting a hunger strike adds a physical danger for them, as well.
Lawyer: We are not optimistic. We still don’t have a date for a trial. They risk up to 12 years of imprisonment if they are found guilty. They are facing charges of smuggling [bringing foreign currency to the country illegally] and charges including illegal entrepreneurship and avoiding tax payment have been added. I have been dealing with political cases in Azerbaijan for more than 10 years, which always have similar charges and trials. Sadly enough, I have never seen a politically-motivated case where the accused was acquitted. This is because of the lack of independent justice. Our courts are not able to deliver independent judgments.
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