“Abzas Media” editor-in-chief complains about pressure in SIZO

Sevindj Vagifgyzy, the editor-in-chief of the “Abzas Media”, who was arrested in Baku, claimed that she again faced physical violence and discrimination from warders.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in November 2024, Sevindj Vagifgyzy and “Abzas Media” employees Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasymova faced pressure at a SIZO (pre-trial detention prison). In particular, one of the SIZO warders injured Nargiz Absalamova’s arm, and Sevindj Vagifgyzy was also injured during a conflict with the SIZO warders. At the SIZO-1 in Baku, female prisoners are regularly being subjected to physical and psychological violence, Elnara Gasymova complains.

Sevindj Vagifgyzy has complained about physical pressure and discrimination from the detention centre staff. She reported that she experienced pressure after she tried to greet Elnara Gasymova through the window in the door of her prison cell, states Ofeliya Magerramova, a mother of Sevindj Vagifgyzy.

At the same time, according to the arrested persons’ report, other prisoners are not being prevented from talking. “But female journalists are being subjected to discrimination. And even when Sevinj and Elnara were prevented from communicating, a female prisoner in another cell was talking through a window with a young woman inside,” stated Ofeliya Magerramova.

Elshan Gasanov, the head of the Centre for Monitoring Political Prisoners, suggests that it looks like the SIZO warders are trying to limit contacts between the defendants in the “Abzas Media” case as much as possible. “This is the punishment for their persistence, for making public the violation of prisoners’ rights. Apparently, the SIZO administration wants to create harsh conditions for the journalists in retaliation. On the other hand, the warders fear that by communicating with each other, the journalists will feel more confident,” Elshan Gasanov explained.

Let us remind you that six employees of the “Abzas Media”, including Ulvi Gasanli, Sevindj Vagifgyzy, Mokhammed Kekalov, Nargiz Absalamova, Khafiz Babaly, and Elnara Gasymova, were arrested on the charge of foreign currency smuggling. Economist Farid Mekhralizade was also arrested in the same case.

Journalists from other media outlets, including the “Toplum TV”, “Meydan TV”, and “Kanal-13”, were also persecuted.