Ulvi Hasanli's Shocking Claim at the Supreme Court: 'The Investigation Questioned Why We Were Investigating Corruption'
Ulvi Hasanli Made a Shocking - Ulvi Hasanli's Shocking Claim at the Supreme Court - On March 13, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan heard the cassation appeal of Ulvi Hasanli, head of the independent media outlet "AbzasMedia". This court process has garnered significant public interest amidst recent accusations against many independent journalists and media workers in the country.
Speaking at the court session, Ulvi Hasanli specifically emphasized that the "smuggling" charges brought against him were baseless and that this case was, in fact, related to the corruption investigations conducted by "AbzasMedia".
Hasanli made a rather astonishing claim, stating: "The investigative bodies were questioning me about why we were investigating corruption facts." This statement raises serious questions about the true nature of the case and is met with great concern by media freedom advocates.
For many years, "AbzasMedia" has informed the public by conducting investigations into corruption cases involving high-ranking officials in Azerbaijan. These investigations have often been linked to the names of government representatives and their close circles.
Ulvi Hasanli and other "AbzasMedia" employees have been officially arrested on "smuggling" charges. However, international organizations and local human rights defenders argue that these charges are politically motivated and directly related to the journalists' professional activities.
The Supreme Court's decision on this cassation appeal will be considered a significant indicator for the future of freedom of speech and media in Azerbaijan. Both the local public and international organizations continue to closely monitor this process.