Azerbaijani Journalist Sevinc Vaqifqizi Named Among World’s 10 Most Urgent for Second Time
- May 5
- 2 min read
Sevinc Vaqifqizi, the editor-in-chief of Abzas Media has been named to the "10 Most Urgent" list for the second time. This list is published by the One Free Press Coalition on World Press Freedom Day. It highlights journalists globally who are facing legal problems and imprisonment for their work.
The Coalition, which includes international groups like the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Women’s Media Foundation and Reporters Without Borders releases this list every year. They want to draw attention to reporters jailed for telling the truth. This year they are focusing on media professionals targeted under the guise of terrorism, treason or financial crimes.
Sevinc Vaqifqizi is in prison in Azerbaijan serving a nine-year sentence. She was arrested in 2023 and convicted in mid-2025 on charges related to financial crimes. The charges include the alleged importation of funds from Western donors. Official reports say over $43,000 was found during a search of the Abzas Media office in Baku.
Sevinc Vaqifqizi and her legal team deny the charges. They say the prosecution is retaliatory and a response to their investigations into corruption involving ranking government officials and the presidency.
The crackdown on Abzas Media has seen staff members sentenced to significant prison terms. Alongside Sevinc Vaqifqizi, director Ulvi Hasanli and researcher Hafiz Babali received nine-year sentences. Reporters Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Gasimova were sentenced to eight years. Deputy director Mohammad Kekalov received seven and a half years.
The One Free Press Coalition reports that 330 journalists are imprisoned worldwide. Alongside Azerbaijan this years list features cases from Iran, Hong Kong, Vietnam, China, Tajikistan, Cameroon, the Philippines, Ethiopia and Algeria.
We must firmly unite our voices given the rising number of journalists detained simply for doing their jobs. Local and international human rights organizations estimate that 30 media professionals are currently behind bars in Azerbaijan due to their professional activities. This marks a period of pressure on the country's independent media landscape.
Comments