How Long Have Abzas Media Journalists Been in Prison?
Abzas Media journalists have been imprisoned since November 2023. Here is a timeline of their arrests, prison sentences, and time spent behind bars.
Abzas Media journalists and media workers have spent years behind bars following their arrests in late 2023. Their imprisonment has drawn widespread international concern over press freedom and the treatment of independent journalists in Azerbaijan.
The arrests in the Abzas Media case began on November 20, 2023, when Abzas Media director Ulvi Hasanli and deputy director Mahammad Kekalov were detained.
The following day, on November 21, 2023, Abzas Media editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi was also arrested. Other journalists connected to the outlet were subsequently detained.
How Long Have They Been Detained?
As of August 30, 2026, the main Abzas Media defendants have spent the following amount of time in detention:
| Name | Position | Date of Arrest | Time in Detention |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulvi Hasanli | Director, Abzas Media | November 20, 2023 | 2 years, 9 months, 10 days |
| Mahammad Kekalov | Deputy Director | November 20, 2023 | 2 years, 9 months, 10 days |
| Sevinj Vagifgizi | Editor-in-Chief | November 21, 2023 | 2 years, 9 months, 9 days |
| Nargiz Absalamova | Journalist | November 30, 2023 | 2 years, 9 months |
| Hafiz Babali | Investigative Journalist | December 13, 2023 | 2 years, 8 months, 17 days |
| Elnara Gasimova | Journalist | January 13, 2024 | 2 years, 7 months, 17 days |
The Arrests
The arrests began with the detention of Ulvi Hasanli and Mahammad Kekalov on November 20, 2023. Hasanli was the director of Abzas Media, an independent media outlet known for investigative reporting.
Sevinj Vagifgizi, the outlet's editor-in-chief, was arrested the following day. In the weeks that followed, journalists Nargiz Absalamova and Hafiz Babali were also detained. Journalist Elnara Gasimova was arrested in January 2024.
The journalists have denied the allegations brought against them. Human rights and press freedom organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the case and called for the journalists' release.
Prison Sentences
The defendants were ultimately handed lengthy prison sentences:
- Ulvi Hasanli — 9 years
- Sevinj Vagifgizi — 9 years
- Hafiz Babali — 9 years
- Nargiz Absalamova — 8 years
- Elnara Gasimova — 8 years
- Mahammad Kekalov — 7 years and 6 months
On April 3, 2026, Azerbaijan's Supreme Court rejected the defendants' appeals and upheld the previous court decisions.
More Than Two Years Behind Bars
By August 30, 2026, the longest-serving detainees in the Abzas Media case — Ulvi Hasanli and Mahammad Kekalov — had spent 2 years, 9 months and 10 days in detention.
The case has become one of the most prominent examples in recent years of the pressure faced by independent media workers in Azerbaijan. International human rights and press freedom organizations continue to monitor the situation closely.
This article was updated on August 30, 2026.
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