Nargiz Absalamova – journalist of the Abzas Media, an online Azerbaijani media outlet Date of arrest: 30 November 2023 Charge: Article 206.4 (Smuggling, committed by the organized group) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 7 August, 2024, the accused were brought additional charges under the Articles 192.3.2 (Illegal business, committed with gaining an extra large-scale income); 193-1.3.1 (Legalization of money or other property obtained by crime, committed by an organized group or a criminal organization (criminal association); 193-1.3.2 (Legalization of money or other property obtained by crime, committed in large amount); 213.2.1 (Evasion from payment of taxes, committed by the organized group); 320.1 (Fake of certificate or other official document giving the rights or releasing from duties, with a view of its use or selling of such document, as well as manufacturing in same purposes or selling of counterfeit state awards of the Azerbaijan 12 Republic, stamps, seals, forms) and 320.2 (Use of obviously counterfeit documents) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 30 November 2023, Nargiz Absalamova was summoned to the Baku City General Police Department, where, following an interrogation, she was brought up on the same charges as the management of the Internet publication Abzas Media, and then she was detained. On 1 December 2023, the Baku City Khatai District Court issued a ruling: to apply a preventive measure against Nargiz Absalamova in the form of arrest for a period of 3 months. The period of detention in custody during the investigation has been subsequently extended several times Sentence: On 20 June 2025, the Baku City Court for Serious Crimes sentenced to 8 years in prison Judge: Rasim Sadikhov Penal of detention: Penal Colony at the Qurumba village in Lankaran District Conclusion: On 26 December 2023, the Baku City Khatai District Court considered a petition for the transfer of Nargiz Absalamova under house arrest. According to the lawyer Shahla Humbatova, "Nargiz Absalamova spoke in court. She said that the accusation brought against her is absolutely unjustified and she is being persecuted because of her professional journalistic activities. She does not consider herself guilty". Besides, Absalamova, as well as other defendants in the case of Abzas Media, are not allowed to see and talk on the phone with their loved ones and the complaint about this will be considered in the coming days. "She is also not allowed to call a lawyer. In this regard, I will also file a complaint," the lawyer noted. On 14 November, 2024, Nargiz Absalamova was subjected to pressure by a guard, Shahla, and the Head of the Pre-trial Detention Center, Elnur Ismayilov, as reported by her relatives. They used force against her and as a result they badly injured Absalamova's arm. When the journalists, Sevinj Vaqifqizi and Elnara Qasimova, expressed their disapproval to the violence against Nargiz Absalamova, the next day, 15 November, a group of imprisoned women tried to put pressure on them. The information about the pressure on the journalists became public and caused a wide resonance in the society. On 16 November 2024, the journalists' family members were obliged waiting for a meeting with the prisoners for several hours. The journalists were brought to the meeting with their relatives only after their protests and threats to start a hunger strike. Sevinj Vaqifqizi's family members stated that upon their meeting they discovered bruises on her wrist, as well as on her thumb and middle finger. Sevinj Vaqifqizi informed her family members that Nargiz Absalamova and Elnara Qasimova had similar injuries on their bodies.