Azerbaijan Restricts Travel of Jailed Journalist’s Mother

Azerbaijani authorities have imposed a travel ban on the mother of imprisoned journalist Avaz Zeynalli. The ban prevents her from leaving the country, a move rights groups say is designed to silence family members who speak publicly about political prisoners.

Zeynalli has been behind bars since 2022 on charges his supporters call politically motivated. His mother had been vocal in international media about her son’s conditions. The travel restriction was confirmed by border officials when she attempted to fly to Turkey for a medical appointment.

Human rights organizations including the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the move as collective punishment targeting family members of detained media workers.