Azerbaijan Sentences Exiled Blogger Qabil Mammadov Amid Wider Crackdown on Critics

Qabil Mammadov

A Baku court has sentenced exiled Azerbaijani blogger Qabil Mammadov to 16 years of imprisonment in absentia, a verdict that comes as part of a series of legal actions taken against government critics living abroad.

Mammadov, who resides in Germany, is known for his sharp anti-government speeches on his YouTube channel. He was charged under 24 articles of the Criminal Code, including fraud, terrorism, and extortion through threats. According to the criminal case, Mammadov allegedly deceived 10 people by promising to secure them government jobs and social benefits, receiving a total of 25,597 manats between 2015 and 2017. Mammadov denies the charges, stating he is being persecuted for his critical commentary.

The in absentia sentence was issued on July 30 by the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Elnur Nuriyev. An in absentia arrest warrant was issued for Mammadov earlier in the year due to his residence outside of Azerbaijan.

This recent verdict against Mammadov follows a clear trend of charges being filed against other exiled critics. Recent developments include:

July 28: Blogger Imameddin Alimanov, who also lives abroad, was sentenced to 7 years in prison in absentia for "public calls against the state."

June 3: In absentia arrest warrants were issued for seven individuals, including Mammadov, Alimanov, Mahammad Mirzali, Gurban Mammadov, Suleyman Suleymanli, Elshad Mammadov, and Orkhan Aghayev. The charges are related to calls against the state and for mass riots, with some also facing accusations of fraud and disclosing state secrets.

May 31: Arrest warrants were issued for bloggers Tural Sadigli, Ordukhan Babirov, and former university rector Elshad Abdullayev. Ordukhan Babirov, a Dutch citizen, previously stated that extradition would be "not possible" due to the rule of law in the Netherlands.

Prominent exiled journalist Ganimat Zahid also announced on social media that he, along with Emin Ahmadbayov and Natig Adilov, had received in absentia arrest warrants.

The government's motives for these actions have been debated. Former diplomat Nahid Jafarov suggests the campaign may be a form of psychological pressure designed to influence the critics' well-being, or an effort to prevent the rise of alternative political forces by keeping these individuals in the spotlight. In contrast, deputy Fazil Mustafa compared the exiled bloggers to previously inaccessible Karabakh separatists, suggesting that the sentences could one day become a reality through extradition or arrest.

All of the bloggers and activists named consistently deny the charges, claiming they are politically motivated due to their critical stances against the government.