A group of journalists sentenced in Azerbaijan. They received up to 15 years in prison
Toplum TV reported on corruption in the country
An Azerbaijani court sentenced nine journalists from the independent media outlet Toplum TV, which, among other things, reported on corruption in the country. Two founders of this media received 15 years in prison each. They were accused of financial crimes, however, in Azerbaijan, such lengthy sentences are usually handed down to those found guilty of treason, writes the BBC.
Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzatli, co-founders of Toplum TV, were sentenced to 15 years. Video editor Mushfig Jabbarov, as well as project coordinators Ilkin Amrakhov and Ramil Babaev, received 13 years each. Ali Zeynalov, who trained journalists, and Toplum TV founder Alesker Mammadli were sentenced to 14 years. Reporter Farid Ismailov and SMM manager Elmir Abasov received 12 years in prison each.
Meanwhile, Mammadli, a well-known media lawyer in the country, is now seriously ill.
Toplum TV is known for its investigations into corruption in Azerbaijani ministries, among officials and their family members. The publication also reports on the real state of the economy, censorship, and social problems.
The media maintains its website, as well as a YouTube channel, which currently has about 100,000 subscribers. The publication continues its work, but with a new editorial team.
In March 2024, police raided the media outlet's office in Azerbaijan, sealed it, and arrested almost its entire editorial staff.
A media law adopted two years prior, which completely banned foreign funding for the press in Azerbaijan, allowed charges of money smuggling to be brought against the publication's employees (as well as other independent media outlets). Later, charges of illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery were added.
In a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the persecution of these media journalists was called "the silencing of critical voices" in Azerbaijan. Human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders, also spoke out in defense of Toplum TV, stating that the journalists had become "victims of state persecution of independent media in Azerbaijan".
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