阿塞拜疆法院以非法接收西方捐款为由，对独立媒体Toplum TV创始人及其关联的9名记者和活动人士做出定罪判决[1]。其中，Toplum TV创始人兼主任Alasgar Mammadli被判监禁14年，活动人士Akif Gurbanov和Ruslan Izzetli被判15年，其他记者和活动人士的刑期为12至14年[1]。检控方指控被告人组织犯罪集团并进行非法融资活动[1]。
国际媒体组织对该案提出严厉批评。律师Elchin Sadigov表示"这是与其记者活动相关的非法和政治动机的法庭判决"[1]，国际记者联合会秘书长Anthony Bellanger则称之为"纯粹的政府镇压和恐吓"[1]。该案被广泛认为是对媒体自由和言论自由的打压。2024年3月，警方突袭了Toplum TV的办公室并逮捕多名员工[1]。
An Azerbaijani court has convicted nine journalists and activists on charges related to illegal receipt of Western donations, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from 12 to 15 years [1]. Alasgar Mammadli, founder and director of independent media outlet Toplum TV, received a 14-year sentence, while activists Akif Gurbanov and Ruslan Izzetli were each sentenced to 15 years [1]. Other defendants received sentences between 12 and 14 years [1].
The convictions have drawn sharp international criticism as politically motivated. Defense lawyer Elchin Sadigov characterized the verdict as "illegal and politically motivated judicial decisions related to their journalistic activities" [1]. The International Federation of Journalists Secretary General Anthony Bellanger condemned the case as "pure government repression and intimidation" [1]. The charges against the defendants included organizing a criminal group in addition to allegations of illegally receiving and using foreign funds [1]. In March 2024, police raided the Toplum TV office and arrested multiple staff members in connection with the investigation [1].
The case occurs under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, who has governed Azerbaijan since 2003 and secured another term in 2024 with 92 percent of the vote [1].