Reuters: Aliyev has brought 7 independent journalists to court in an attempt to stifle free press

Seven people went on trial in Azerbaijan on Tuesday in the latest of a series of cases against staff of independent news media, prompting accusations of a crackdown on the press, Reuters writes.

Six of the defendants are affiliated with Abzas Media, an independent outlet focused on corruption and human rights in the South Caucasus country, which ranks 164th of 180 countries in Reporters without Borders’ (RSF) World Press Freedom Index.

The seventh is a reporter with the Azeri language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a U.S.-government funded outlet.

International press freedom groups have demanded the release of the Abzas staff, casting their arrest as an attempt by the authorities to silence their anti-corruption reporting.

President Ilham Aliyev has rejected criticism over the arrests of journalists and said Azerbaijan has “a free press and a free internet.”

The first arrests in the case were made in November 2023 after authorities said they had found 40,000 euros ($41,000) in cash in Abzas Media’s Baku offices. The defendants face up to 12 years in prison if convicted on charges of smuggling.

Those arrested deny the charges of smuggling. At least 20 independent media professionals are currently behind bars there, according to RSF.