Human rights activists demand the release of journalist Mammadli

The Committee to Protect Journalists deemed Ahmed Mammadli's sentence the result of a fabricated case and demanded his release and an end to the persecution of journalists in Azerbaijan. The defense intends to appeal Mammadli's sentence.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on March 16, the Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Yoldash Media founder Ahmed Mammadli to six years in prison, finding him guilty of causing bodily harm. Mammadli denied the charges, citing his journalistic and public work, including his previous involvement with the youth movement "Democracy-1918." The defense stated that no evidence of Mammadli's guilt was presented, and even a prosecution witness did not confirm the investigation's version of events.

The New York-based international Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the sentence of Ahmed Mammadli, the organization said in a statement received by the Caucasian Knot correspondent.

The committee believes that the journalist was arrested and convicted on trumped-up charges and called on the Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release Mammadli.

Ahmed Mammadli's sentence appears highly questionable.

"Considering Azerbaijan's record of imprisoning dozens of journalists on trumped-up charges in recent years, Ahmed Mammadli's sentence appears highly questionable," Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said in a statement.

CPJ called on Europe and the United States to apply pressure. on the Azerbaijani authorities. "As Europe and the United States continue to strengthen ties with Azerbaijan, they must demand an end to the persecution of the press if they do not want to be seen as condoning such egregious abuses," the organization said.

Mammadli was one of the last independent journalists covering political trials in Azerbaijan, CPJ told CPJ. "According to CPJ's most recent census of imprisoned journalists, Azerbaijan has the sixth-largest prison population in the world, with at least 24 journalists imprisoned in retaliation for their professional work. CPJ sent an email request to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees the police, but has not received a response," the statement said.

As Mammadli's lawyer, Rasul Jafarov, told the Caucasian Knot correspondent, in the final decision the court acquitted the journalist of the charge under Article 221.3 (hooliganism with the use of a weapon), but found him guilty under Article 126.4.2 (intentional infliction of grievous bodily harm) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

The charge was not proven in court.

"But this charge was also not proven in court, and even prosecution witnesses did not confirm that Ahmed Mammadli committed any criminal acts," Jafarov said.

He noted that the defense has 20 days to appeal the verdict, and an appeal will be filed within this period.

As a reminder, Yoldash Media positions itself as "an alternative media platform that strives to provide its viewers with unbiased and complete information." The publication covers the trials of Azerbaijani activists and journalists.

13:55 19.01.2026

Human rights activists consider the sentences of exiled Azerbaijani journalists to be intimidation

The International Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to stop persecuting journalists in exile. The organization's statement came after the sentencing of two journalists working in political exile – Sevinj Osmangizi and Ganimat Zahid.

Journalists from other media outlets, including Abzas Media, Meydan TV, Toplum TV, and Kanal-13, have also been persecuted in Azerbaijan. The "Caucasian Knot" report "Serial Arrests of Journalists in Azerbaijan" details the events that led to this new wave of repression against the independent press.

In June 2025, a Baku court found employees of the online publication Abzas Media guilty of economic crimes. The publication's director, Ulvi Hasanli, editor-in-chief, Sevinj Vagifgizi, investigative journalist, Hafiz Babali, and economist, Farid Mehralizade, were sentenced to nine years in prison, Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova to eight years, and Mohammed Kekalov to seven. The appellate court upheld the sentences.

In October 2025, the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Kaisa Ollongren, expressed concern about serious restrictions on media freedom in Azerbaijan. Her statement was made during a meeting with Azerbaijani journalists in exile.

On March 3, 2026, the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists released a report according to which Azerbaijan was among European countries with a high level of criminal prosecution of journalists. Of the 148 journalists held in prison at the end of 2025, 36 were in Azerbaijan.

In 2024, the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan reached its highest level in the country's 23 years of membership in the Council of Europe, according to the "Caucasian Knot" report "Key Points on the Record Number of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan." At the same time, the Azerbaijani authorities deny the existence of political prisoners in the country.