IPI: At least 25 journalists were arrested in Azerbaijan on trumped-up charges in the past year

Azerbaijani authorities must immediately release journalists in prison and end this wave of oppression against independent media, IPI reports, condemning the arrests of journalists Shamshad Agha and Shahnaz Beylargazi.

As noted, the number of media workers currently in Azerbaijan’s jails tops 20, since authorities embarked on a campaign of repression in November 2023. In an interview broadcast by the TV channel, Agha’s brother Shahid said the arrest took place during a raid on the family home at 2:00 am conducted by 7 or 8 masked police officers.

Security forces also conducted a search of the entire house and confiscated phones and computer equipment. Both Agha and Beylargazi have been charged with “smuggling foreign currency” and placed in pre-trial detention. This latest incident follows a wave of arrests in December against Meydan TV journalists, and a previous series of arrests of Toplum TV journalists in March 2024. As of February 2025, IPI is aware of at least 25 journalists arrested over the past year on trumped-up charges such as currency smuggling and extortion. Many of those have reportedly faced torture and other mistreatment while in detention.