Two public figures residing abroad have been arrested even though they aren't in the country

Abid Gafarov and Sevinj Osmanqizi

Sevinj Osmangizi Called to Prosecutor General's Office

Journalist Sevinj Osmangizi and blogger Abid Gafarov, both living abroad, received summonses to the Prosecutor General's Office.

Osmangizi faces charges under Criminal Code Articles 220.2 (disobeying lawful demands from officials, inciting riots and violence) and 281.2 (repeated or group incitement against the state).

She's now on a wanted list, and the Binagadi District Court has ordered her arrest in absentia.

Blogger Abid Gafarov received formal notice from the Prosecutor General's Office's Investigation Department regarding charges under Criminal Code Article 467-13.4.

Gafarov must appear before the Investigation Department by November 20, 2025.

He's charged under the same articles, 220.2 and 281.2, as Osmangizi.

Since Gafarov is outside the country, he's also wanted, and the Binagadi District Court has ordered his arrest in absentia.

Osmangizi told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the summons wasn't a surprise: If you host a YouTube channel, broadcast daily, and discuss issues that threaten regime interests, you're a possible target.

Osmangizi rejects these charges, stating, This is about intimidation, not my actions.

Gafarov responded on his Facebook page:

I haven't called for riots or confrontation. But the authorities' destruction of political and social groups is pushing us toward civil conflict.

The Prosecutor General's Office has recently summoned bloggers and online TV figures abroad for similar investigations, often issuing arrest warrants in absentia.

Additional Summons

The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has also summoned journalist Sevinj Osmangizi (Mirzayeva), who resides in the U.S. The appeal from the Prosecutor was on ITV on November 13.

The appeal asked Osmangizi to be at the Main Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office on November 20 at 4:00 PM.

The Prosecutor General's Office charges S. Osmangizi under Article 281.2 of the Criminal Code (open calls against the state). The institution's statement reads: A wanted list was declared on that date because charges were announced against him, as he fled from the investigative body and hid outside the borders of Azerbaijan. By the decision of the Binagadi District Court of Baku dated February 23, 2025, he was placed under arrest in absentia.

The journalist was also charged on September 18 under Article 220.2 of the Criminal Code (calls for mass riots, as well as violence against citizens).

The Prosecutor General's Office says S. Osmangizi, in her speeches on her YouTube channel in 2019 and 2020, encouraged the illegal and violent seizure of power in Azerbaijan by influencing the will of the people.

Another public activist, Abid Gafarov, who lives abroad, has also been summoned for this investigation. The Prosecutor General's Office wants him to appear at the Main Investigation Department on November 20 at 12:00 PM. A. Gafarov faces the same charges for his mentions on S. Osmangizi's program.

Also, the Prosecutor General's Office announced that Beydulla Manafov, who also lives abroad, has to be at the investigation. He faces charges under Article 281.2 of the Criminal Code, as well as Article 283.1 (actions to incite national, racial, social or religious hatred and enmity).

In the past, the Prosecutor General's Office has summoned a number of bloggers working abroad for investigation based on similar charges and issued arrest warrants in absentia against them.

The Prosecutor General's Office wants journalist Sevinc Osmangizi, who lives in the U.S., to show up at the Main Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General's Office at 4:00 PM on November 20. News of the summons was on ITV.

She was formally charged on February 23 under Articles 220.2 (calls for mass riots, as well as violence against citizens) and 281.2 (Open calls against the state) of the Criminal Code and put on the wanted list.

The Prosecutor General's Office told Osmangizi that she may face a verdict or another final court decision in absentia if she does not show up.

Beydulla Manafov and Abid Gafarov, who also live abroad, have similar charges related to their appearances on the Osmangizi TV channel. The Prosecutor General's Office wants them to come in for investigation on the same date. Gafarov will be investigated as a defendant under Articles 220.2 and 281.2 of the Criminal Code, and Manafov under Articles 281.2 and 283.1 (Actions to cause national, racial, social or religious hatred and enmity).

Sevinj Osmangizi: 'This is intimidation beyond words'

After the prosecutor's statement, journalist Sevinj Osmangizi said that this was not unexpected for her: If you are the host of a YouTube channel, if you are on the air every day and if you touch on the interests of the regime, you are a possible target.

S. Osmangizi, who did not accept the charges, emphasized that this is intimidation beyond words.

He added that there were people who were shot during the repressions in the USSR in the 1937s and 1938s and were later acquitted: One day, we will be acquitted on this Public TV. Because our journalists who are in prison are not guilty of anything.

As of right now, A. Gafarov and B. Manafov have not stated their opinions on this issue. However, they also reportedly disagree with the accusations.

The Prosecutor General's Office has a history of calling in bloggers and representatives of internet television operating abroad for investigation using similar charges and issuing arrest warrants in absentia against them.

The Osmangyzi TV internet channel began in 2018. Before that, S. Osmangyzi worked for BBC radio and ANS television. In recent years, some media outlets close to the government have heavily attacked and criticized him.