I am Imprisoned in Azerbaijan. My Crime? Journalism
Americans and the free world must take notice: a threat to press freedom anywhere is a threat to press freedom everywhere.
The morning of my arrest felt like any other day. My wife Nargiz and I woke up, had breakfast, and talked about her upcoming doctor’s visit. This one felt special because the ultrasound was going to show our baby in more detail, almost like a photo. I remember feeling a wave of excitement at the thought of seeing our child so clearly.
Shortly after parking my car, I was surrounded by masked men who put a bag over my head, handcuffed me, and forced me into a car that eventually brought me to the police station. Later that day, authorities escorted me home and raided my house while I tried to reassure my wife everything would be okay.
It wasn’t until later that I learned why I had been abducted and treated like a dangerous criminal. I was being charged with “smuggling” and “money laundering” in connection with a criminal case Azerbaijani authorities brought against an independent media outlet called Abzas Media.
But the complete lack of evidence and fact that Abzas Media does not employ me, as the organization has publicly verified, highlights the real reason I’m in an Azerbaijani prison: I am an independent journalist working for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which provides uncensored news in countries like Azerbaijan where freedom of the press is under threat.
My crime? Reporting the truth about Azerbaijan’s economy and how the government’s policies affect its citizens. Like me, my co-defendants are some of the last independent journalists in Azerbaijan and are being punished for reporting the truth.
I have long enjoyed working with statistics and figures. As an RFE/RL journalist and economist, I’ve tried to provide a clear picture of how the government’s economic and environmental policies impact people’s lives, jobs, and incomes. Much of my reporting focuses on wealth inequality, youth unemployment, and how Azerbaijan’s continued dependence on oil and gas exports affects everyday Azeris, in line with RFE/RL’s mission to provide honest, trustworthy news to freedom-loving people.
My reporting upset the Azerbaijani government, which views everything in black and white. If you’re not a supporter, then you are a traitor. Independent voices aren’t seen as legitimate but as threats to be silenced.
Sadly, my story is not unique. My case is symptomatic of a wider crackdown on independent voices in Azerbaijan, especially those that run counter to the narratives peddled by the government. According to Human Rights Watch, Azerbaijani authorities are increasingly weaponizing the judiciary to fabricate charges against dissenting voices, while the Committee to Protect Journalists ranks Azerbaijan tenth in its list of top jailers of journalists.
It’s now been almost ten months since my violent arrest. As I write from my cell in Baku, the sham trial against me and six other journalists continues in a legal charade that makes a mockery of justice and due process.
I have been denied basic rights throughout the so-called “legal” proceedings. When I appeared in court to protest the abuse I faced at the hands of authorities on the day I was arrested, the judge denied my appeal, refusing even to review the evidence of mistreatment.
In prison, I missed the birth of my daughter. I met her once, briefly when Nargiz was allowed to bring her to the detention center at eight weeks old. I face up to twelve years in prison. I’ve already missed seeing my daughter smile for the first time, laugh, and rollover. If convicted, I will miss more precious moments than I can even imagine.
Americans and the free world must take notice: a threat to press freedom anywhere is a threat to press freedom everywhere. The international community must loudly oppose the Azerbaijani government’s attempts to silence independent voices via seemingly legitimate channels like the judiciary.
Democratic governments must hold Azerbaijan accountable for its crimes against journalists or risk fueling a rising tide of authoritarianism. If the Baku government is successful in silencing independent voices with impunity, their playbook will be copied by would-be autocrats the world over.
Even in my cell, I find ways to keep working. I read dozens of books, deepening my knowledge and sharpening my understanding of the world. I will continue to do my job, whatever the cost, because journalism is not a crime, and the people of Azerbaijan and the world deserve the truth.
Farid Mehralizada is a journalist and economist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Azerbaijani Service. He reports on Azerbaijan’s economic and climate policies. Farid was violently abducted on May 30, 2024, near a Baku metro station and charged with “smuggling” and “money laundering,” charges frequently used by the Azerbaijani government in political cases. He is currently on trial and faces up to twelve years in prison.
Image: Voice of America.