Jailed Azerbaijani journalist denied visit from 82-year-old mother

Alasgar Mammadli

The family of jailed Azerbaijani media expert Alasgar Mammadli say prison authorities in Baku have denied him a visit from his 82-year-old mother.

Mr Mammadli, the co-founder of the independent online news outlet Toplum TV, has been held in pre-trial detention for 26 months on charges his supporters say are politically motivated.

Writing on social media, his wife Gunay Mammadli said his elderly mother and his sister, who is suffering from cancer, had travelled more than 400km (250 miles) to the Baku Detention Centre to see him.

She said they were forced to make the return journey empty-handed after waiting outside the facility for nearly four hours.

"What is the purpose of depriving a man of the minimal moral support of his family?" Mrs Mammadli wrote, warning that the decision would further damage her husband's deteriorating health.

Azerbaijani authorities have not commented on the specific incident.

Families of jailed opposition journalists and civil society activists in Azerbaijan have repeatedly complained of strict visitation limits. They say meetings are restricted behind glass screens, visits are delayed for hours, and phone calls are abruptly disconnected.

The country's Penitentiary Service has previously rejected these claims, insisting that all detainees are treated in strict accordance with the law.

Mr Mammadli was arrested in March 2024 alongside approximately 10 other journalists and activists associated with Toplum TV and the Third Republic Platform, an opposition group.

Those detained were initially accused of smuggling, but the charges were later expanded to include money laundering, illegal entrepreneurship, and tax evasion.

If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison. All of the accused deny the charges and say they are being targeted for their independent journalism and political activism.