Abzas Media journalists have been imprisoned since November 2023. Here is a timeline of their arrests, prison sentences, and time spent behind bars.
Afgan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani journalist and founder of the independent media outlet Azel.tv, was forcibly returned from Georgia to Azerbaijan in April 2026 and detained again two months later. His case has raised serious concerns among international human rights organizations over freedom of expression, arbitrary detention, transnational repression, and the use of legal procedures to target government critics.
Ulvi Hasanli, an independent Azerbaijani journalist and director of Abzas Media, remains imprisoned in connection with charges that international human rights and press freedom organizations have strongly criticized.
Teymur Karimov is more than just a journalist. He is a media professional who brings injustice to light, raises awareness of people’s problems, and refuses to be afraid of telling the truth.