COP29 Hostages
Sevinj Vagifqizi
Journalist, editor of the
"Abzas Media"
Arrested on 20 November 2023
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Ulvi Hasanli
Journalist, head of the
"Abzas Media"
Arrested on 20 November 2023
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Nargiz Absalamova
Journalist of the
"Abzas Media"
Arrested on 30 November 2023
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Elnara Gasimova
Journalist of the
"Abzas Media"
Arrested on 13 January 2024
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Mahammad Kekalov
Youth activist, member of the "Abzas Media"
Arrested on 20 November 2023
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Hafiz Babali
Investigative journalist, arrested in relation to the "Abzas Media" case
Arrested on 13 December 2023
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Aziz Oruc
Journalist, head of online media Kanal 13
Arrested on 27 November 2023
Charges: illegal construction, (Art. 188.2) & smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Shamo Emin
Journalist, member of the online media Kanal 13
Arrested on 22 December 2023
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206.3.2. of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Ali Zeynal
Member of Toplum TV, member of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives
Arrested on 7 March 2024
Charges: smuggling
Ramil Babayev
Member of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives
Arrested on 7 March 2024
Charges: smuggling
Ilkin Amrahov
Member of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives Arrested on 7 March 2024
Charges: smuggling
Mushviq Jabbar
Member of Toplum TV
Arrested on 7 March 2024
Charges: smuggling
Alasgar Mammadli
Founder of Toplum TV
Arrested on 08 March 2024
Charges: smuggling, Art. 206 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Avaz Zeynalli
Founder, editor-in-chief of Xural TV
Arrested on 10 September 2022
Charges: taking a bribe (Art.311), Illegal influence on the decision of an official (Art.
312-1.1 of the Criminal Court)
Polad Aslanov
Journalist, blogger
Arrested on 12 June 2019
Charges: treason, Art. 274 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Teymur Karimov
The head of online media Kanal 11
Arrested on 11 December 2023
Charges: extortion by threat, Art. 182 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Elvin isayev
Blogger
Arrested on 14 December 2019 in Ukraine Charges: organization of riots (Art. 220.1), public appeals directed against the state Art. 281.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Elnur Shukurov
The head of the "Sada
TV" YouTube channel
Arrested on 14 September 2022
Charges: Illegal influence on the decision of an official (Art. 312-1.1 of the Criminal Court)
Afgan Khanaliyev
Blogger
Arested on 24 April 2024
Ulvi Tahirov
Position / Role
Nazakat Mammadova
Political commentator
Arested on October 2023
Arzu Sayadoglu
Blogger
Arrested on 26/28 January 2024 by State Security Service
Charges: unknown
Osman Rzayev
Journalist, editor of Demokratik.az Arrested on 5 July 2022
Charges: extortion by threat, Art. 182.2.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Aslan Gurbanov
Blogger
Arrested on 14 July 2020
Charges: Public calls against the state (Art.
281.2) & Insult ( Art. 283.1 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan)
Rashad Ramazanov
Blogger
Arrested on 20 May 2022
Charges: Illegal drug acquisition or possession with intent to sell, Art. 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Jamil Mammadli
Blogger, independent journalist
Arrested on 24 August 2023
Charges: Art. 221.2.2 (hooliganism committed by a group of persons by prior agreement), Art. 182.2.1 (extortion by threats by a group of persons, by prior agreement of property in a significant amount) and Art. 178.2 (fraud committed by a group of persons) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Imran Aliyev
Founder and CEO of Meclis.info
Arrested on 18 April 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Akif Qurbanov
The head of the Institute for Democratic Initiatives and the Third Republican Platform
Arrested on 7 March 2024
Charges: smuggling
Farid Mehralizade
Economist, journalist
Arrested on 01 June 2024
Charges: smuggling , Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Fazil Gasimov
Economist
Arrested on 07 August 2023 in Turkey, deported to Azerbaijan
Charges: manufacture, purchase or sale of counterfeit money as part of an organized group; Article 204.3.1 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Iqbal Abilov
Scientist-ethnographer, researcher, Talysh scholar
Arrested on 22 July 2024
Charges: high treason (Article 274); public calls directed against the state, committed on the instructions of foreign organizations or their representatives (Article 281.3); incitement of national, racial, social or religious hatred and enmity (Article 283.1 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan)
Famil KHalilov
Blogger, disabled human rights activist
Arrested on 04 May 2024
Charges: large-scale drug trafficking, Article 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Emin Ibrahimov
Former Azerbaijani diplomat
Arrested on 23 July 2024
Charges: intentional infliction of serious harm to health from hooligan motives (Article 126.2.4); hooliganism (Article 221 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan)
Anar Mammadli
Human rights defender, head of the Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre
Arrested on 29 April 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Bahruz Samedov
Political analyst, activist
Arrested on 21 August 2024
Charges: treason (Article 274 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan)
Rafat Safarov
Human rights defender
178.3.2 (fraud committed with large-scale damage) and 221.1 (hooliganism)
Aynur Elgunesh
Journalist at Meydan TV
Arrested on 6 December 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Arshad Ibrahimov
Head of the website dunyaninsesi.az
Arrested on 2023
Charges: Article282.2.2 (request by threat, committed repeatedly)
Aytaj Ahmadova
Journalist at Meydan TV
Arrested on 6 December 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Aysel Umudova
Journalist at Meydan TV
Arrested on 6 December 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Ibrahim Humbatov
Position / Role
Khayala Aghayeva
Journalist at Meydan TV
Arrested on 6 December 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Natig Javadli
Director of the Institute of Political Management
Arested on 9 December 2024
Charges: 182.2.3 (committed by threat or use of force)
Azer Gasimli
Director of the Institute of Political Management, political scientist
Arested on 9 December 2024
Charges: 182.2.3 (committed by threat or use of force)
Ramin Jabrayilzade
Independent journalist, reporter
Arrested on 6 December 2024
Charges: smuggling, Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Sahib Mammadzadeh
Chairman of the Dashkesan branch of the Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP)
Arrested on 6 December 2024
Charges: Article 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan
Afiaddin Mammadov
Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions "Workers' Table"
Arrested on September 2023
Charges: Article 126.2.4 (intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm - committed with the intent of hooliganism) and 221.3 (hooliganism - use of a weapon or an object as a weapon)
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev
Social activist
Arrested on December 9, 2022.
Charges: Article 221.2.2 (hooliganism by resisting a person performing a duty to protect public order) and 289.1 (contempt of court)