Key facts
- Two co-founders of Toplum TV, three journalists, and four activists were sentenced to jail terms of up to 15 years.
- Akif Gurbanov received a 15-year sentence, and Alasgar Mammadli received a 14-year sentence.
- The defendants claim the charges are politically motivated and intend to appeal.
- Toplum TV is an independent online media outlet covering politics, corruption, and human rights in Azerbaijan.
- Charges include smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.
Two co-founders of the independent Azerbaijani online TV station Toplum TV, along with three of its journalists and four activists, have been sentenced to jail terms of up to 15 years on charges of financial crimes. Akif Gurbanov, a co-founder, received a 15-year sentence, while his colleague Alasgar Mammadli was sentenced to 14 years. All defendants have denied the charges, asserting they are politically motivated, and their legal teams have stated their intention to appeal the verdicts.
Toplum TV, established in 2016, is noted as one of the few remaining independent online media outlets in Azerbaijan, focusing on reporting on politics, corruption, and human rights issues. The station's offices were raided in March 2024, leading to the detention of several employees and associates. Initially facing smuggling charges, prosecutors later added accusations including illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery.
Azerbaijani authorities maintain that the journalists face legitimate charges unrelated to their journalistic activities. However, defense lawyers have criticized the trial, citing a lack of fairness and the denial of defense motions. International organizations have also voiced concerns, with Reporters Without Borders ranking Azerbaijan 171 out of 180 countries for press freedom. The U.S. State Department has previously expressed deep concern over similar arrests and called on Azerbaijan to cease harassment of individuals exercising fundamental freedoms.