Farid Mehralizada, a journalist for RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, is facing a 12-year prison sentence on smuggling charges, which he asserts are politically motivated due to his critical reporting. Prosecutors are seeking similar sentences for six other journalists, all of whom claim the charges are fabricated. Mehralizada describes being arrested, tortured, and pressured by police, leading him to believe that his investigative work directly led to his current predicament. The case highlights Azerbaijan's ongoing crackdown on press freedom and the increasing dangers journalists face in the country.
Prosecutors may impose 12-year sentences on multiple journalists, alleging smuggling charges rooted in political motivations against their critical reporting, particularly regarding Azerbaijan's economy.
Mehralizada's experience of coercion and pressure underscores the dangers faced by journalists in Azerbaijan who challenge official narratives, highlighting systemic repression against the press.
Despite Azerbaijan's government denying political motivation in these arrests, the pattern of targeting dissenting voices, especially in independent journalism, reveals an ongoing issue of press freedom.
Azerbaijani authorities persist in enforcing strict censorship and manipulation of the media, indicating significant setbacks for journalists fighting against state oppression.
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