Azerbaijani Journalist Imran Aliyev Arrested on Smuggling Charges Amid Media Crackdown

Imran Aliyev, the head of the independent Azerbaijani media outlet Meclis.info, has been remanded in custody for two months on charges of smuggling by a court in the capital Baku. Aliyev was detained at Baku airport on Thursday while trying to board a flight to Istanbul. He is being prosecuted under the "Abzas Media case", along with several other journalists and editors who are accused of illegally receiving grants from foreign donors and currency smuggling.

Aliyev's relatives claim he was subjected to physical pressure and electric shock torture to force him to confess. The defense is appealing the arrest decision. Six other employees of the Abzas Media group have also been detained since late last year in connection with the same case. Aliyev has alleged that he has been subjected to electric shocks and beatings since being taken into custody.

Why this matters: Aliyev's arrest is part of a broader crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan, with seven journalists and editors now facing prison terms ranging from five to eight years. The case highlights the deteriorating press freedom situation in the ex-Soviet state, where the government has been accused of silencing critical voices.

International press freedom groups have demanded the release of Aliyev and the other detained Abzas Media staff, describing the arrests as an attempt to silence their anti-corruption reporting. The European Union's ambassador to Azerbaijan has expressed concern over the treatment of the detained journalists, but the Azerbaijani government has accused the envoy of interfering in its judicial system.

The European Parliament is set to discuss the human rights situation in Azerbaijan, including the cases of Aliyev and other detained journalists, on April 24-25. The arrests come amid proposed amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences, which would fine media workers for providing photo, video, or audio recordings of administrative offense proceedings without consent. Lawyer Fuad Agayev has criticized the proposed ban, arguing it would significantly complicate the work of the media and contradict the Constitution and freedom of speech.

Key Takeaways

• Azerbaijani journalist Imran Aliyev arrested on charges of smuggling, claims torture
• Aliyev's arrest part of broader crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan
• 7 journalists and editors face prison terms of 5-8 years for anti-corruption reporting
• EU concerned over treatment of detained journalists, Azerbaijan accuses EU of interference
• Proposed law would fine media workers for recording administrative offense proceedings