JOURNALISTS FACE NEW CHARGES AND EXTENDED DETENTION

Ahead of COP29, Azerbaijani authorities have brought further false charges against, and extended detention of, six journalists from investigative news outlet, Abzas Media. They have been in detention for over ten months, two of them subjected to alleged torture and ill-treatment and denial of the medical care that they require.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: December 30, 2024

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sample letter:

Dear President, 

I am writing to express my concern about the unfounded prosecution and arbitrary detention of more than a dozen journalists, under fabricated charges, ahead of the upcoming 2024 UN climate change conference (COP29).

Abzas Media Director, Ulvi Hasanli; his deputy, Mahammad Kekalov; Editor-in-Chief, Sevinj Vagifgizi; and journalists – Nargiz Absalamova, Elnara Gasimova, and Hafiz Babali – were arbitrarily arrested between November 2023 and January 2024, accused of smuggling money by a group of persons through prior conspiracy. In August 2024, the prosecution also brought new false charges against them, of illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, and tax evasion, at the same time as the outlet continued to publish critical stories. In September 2024, a court in Baku extended their detention. They now face between eight to 12 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The charges, which they all deny, have been brought against them to silence their critical voices. Ulvi Hasanli has also reported being threatened to surrender the letter he published from detention, in which he described widespread torture and other ill-treatment of detainees which he has witnessed. The journalist, Hafiz Babali, needs a surgical operation and treatment that he is not receiving in prison.

I urge you to take steps to ensure an immediate release of all journalists arrested in retaliation for their critical reporting. I urge you to ensure an effective investigation of all allegations of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, and of fabrication of charges. Finally, I ask that all those suspected of perpetrating, commissioning, or condoning these and other human rights violations are brought to justice in fair trial proceedings. The clampdown on media and other independent voices in Azerbaijan must stop immediately.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

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