Ulviya Ali was denied access to her mother in the detention center

Security forces in Baku prevented Ulviya Ali's mother from visiting her after she came to congratulate her on her birthday. Such restrictions are not common in Azerbaijan and could be seen as pressure on the journalist, the lawyer noted.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," journalist Ulviya Ali (Guliyeva) was questioned as a witness in the Meydan TV case in January, after which she was banned from leaving Azerbaijan. In April, a Baku court dismissed the journalist's appeal of this decision, and in May, she was detained and arrested as a defendant in the Meydan TV case. She denied the smuggling charge and stated that she does not collaborate with the outlet. Ali was taken to the detention center after being beaten by security forces, where her condition worsened significantly. In July, the court remanded her in custody .

Ulviyya Ali's birthday was on October 13, but her mother was not allowed to see her daughter at Baku Pretrial Detention Center No. 1, the journalist's mother, Ilham Mehmanli, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He said the meeting was not allowed.

"I bought a cake, prepared a celebratory meal, and went to meet my daughter. However, the head of the pretrial detention center, Elnur Ismailov, contrary to a promise he made several days earlier, did not allow my daughter and I to meet on her birthday. Elnur Ismailov did not receive me. His deputy, Ahad Abiyev, said the meeting was not permitted. I asked Ismailov why he had not kept his promise, but he did not answer," Mehmanli said.

The woman noted that despite the meeting's cancellation, she was able to speak with her daughter on October 13th. "My daughter, Ulviya, called and said she was feeling well. She asked me not to worry and added, 'Don't worry, we'll win with a smile on our faces,'" Ilhama Mehmanli said.

According to practice in the Azerbaijani penitentiary system, prisoners are granted unscheduled visits with relatives on their birthdays or other significant days for their families, an Azerbaijani legal expert , who asked not to be named, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Perhaps they decided to annoy Ulviyya Ali because of her "obstinacy"

"Or perhaps the visit is granted in exchange for a future visit. If this isn't done, it's because of some bias. Perhaps they've decided to irritate Ulviyya Ali because of her 'obstinacy' and her continued journalistic work even from behind bars. She sends her publications to the media from the pretrial detention center. Once, she somehow managed to arrange an interview with another political prisoner, researcher Bakhruz Samedov ," the lawyer said.

It was not possible to obtain comments from the Penitentiary Service, a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported today.

Ulviyya Ali criticized the investigation's position

On October 13, Ulviyya Ali published a lengthy post on her X social media page, denying all charges against her. She also noted that after the Meydan TV employees were arrested in December 2024, she had returned to Azerbaijan twice from trips abroad.

13:07 23.09.2025

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However, on January 16, 2025, the Baku police headquarters informed her that she was banned from leaving the country in connection with the Meydan TV case, even though she had no connection to the outlet, Ali noted, whose publication was translated into Russian by a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

"But I told the police that even if I were a Meydan TV employee, it wouldn't be a crime. Usually, in Azerbaijan, imposing a travel ban is a final warning: 'If you don't keep quiet, you'll be arrested.' Many preferred to quietly seek to have the ban lifted and be allowed to leave the country through the courts. I also filed complaints to the court, but I didn't remain silent; I published countless posts and gave interviews about the illegality of the ban," wrote Ulviya Ali.

She noted that she continued her journalistic work, reporting on the trials of her arrested colleagues. The journalist emphasized that if she had intended to leave the country, she would have done so long ago, as she had had ample opportunity during her numerous trips abroad.

The investigator claimed in his statement to the court that I could allegedly flee the country. I find this funny.

"On the day of my arrest and twice during the extension of my detention, the investigator claimed in his statement to the court that I could allegedly flee the country. I find it funny when they talk in court about such a 'possibility' (of fleeing the country) for someone who has had such opportunities on numerous occasions," Ali wrote.

It should be noted that journalists from other media outlets, including Toplum TV, Abzas Media, and Kanal-13, have also been persecuted in Azerbaijan. On June 20, journalists and employees of Abzas Media were sentenced to prison  terms ranging from 7.5 to 9 years. They denied the charges in court, emphasizing that they were being persecuted for their professional activities and for investigating corruption.

The number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest level in 2024 since the country's 23-year membership in the Council of Europe, according to the Caucasian Knot report " Key Points on the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan ." However, Azerbaijani authorities  deny the existence  of political prisoners in the country.

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/416337