Vuqar Mammadov – Editor-in-Chief of the news website Hurriyyet TV, an online Azerbaijani media outlet Date of arrest: 29 October 2025 Charge: Articles 182.2.2 (Extortion committed repeatedly) and 182.2.4 (Extortion committed with causing damage to a victim in significant size) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
On 31 October 2025, the Baku City Sabayil District Court issued a ruling: to apply a preventive measure against Vuqar Mammadov in the form of arrest for a period of 3 months and 13 days.
Place of detention: Pre-trial Detention Center of the State Security Service Conclusion: On the evening of 29 October 2025, the State Security Service (SSS) detained Vuqar Mammadov, the newspaper Hürriyyet Editor-in-Chief, the owner of the Hurriyyet.az website and the internet Hurriyyet.az TV channel.
At the same time, the Hurriyyet TV office was searched, all computer equipment and a number of documents were seized.
Subsequently, Vugar Mammadov was arrested on charges of spreading prohibited information on the Hurriyet TV internet channel.
The reason for his arrest was an interview with Elnur Mammadov, a retired colonel who was detained as well.
In his interview, Elnur Mammadov spoke about corruption in the Azerbaijani army and made accusatory remarks against the Minister of Defence, Zakir Hasanov.
The programme was hosted by Vuqar Mammadov.
The newspaper and television channel Hurriyyet TV emplyers said that the arrest didn't really surprise them, ‘A few months ago, some officials warned Vugar Mammadov that he would be arrested if he didn't stop his activities.' That's why they don't believe in the official charges: ‘One thing is clear: the charges are fabricated.
Vugar Mammadov was arrested for criticising high-ranking officials on Hurriyyet TV.
The seizure of Hurriyyet TV's equipment also indicates that Vuqar Mammadov was arrested precisely in connection with the channel's work, and that this work is now brought to a standstill.’ However, on 16 April 2026, the preliminary investigation was completed, and it became known that the previous charge against Vugar Mammadov under the Article 388-1.1 (Placement or failure to prevent the spread of prohibited information on the Internet) of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Azerbaijan Republic had been replaced with more serious charges under the Articles 182.2.2 and 182.2.4 of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic.
Now, the investigation recognises as victims the Veysəloğlu Group, the owner of the large Araz and Oba supermarket chains, and their confectionery enterprises.
In particular, the editor-in-chief is accused of having, by means of threats, coerced this group of companies to transferring 200 manats (approximately 120 US dollars) per month to the account of the newspaper Hurriyyet. 36 Vugar Mammadov denied these new charges and stated that the funds had been transferred on the basis of a formal advertising contract.
In turn, Jasur Mammadov, the Director General of the newspaper Hurriyyet and the brother of the detained individual, appealed on behalf of the editorial staff to the Prosecutor General of the Azerbaijan Republic, requesting him to take the case under his personal supervision.
In his letter, he stated: “The only evidence available to the investigating authority is the assertion that Vugar Mammadov allegedly, by blackmailing the Veysəloğlu company, secured the monthly transfer in the amount of exactly 200 manats to the account of the newspaper Hurriyyet.
However, this concerns an official advertising contract concluded at the company’s request, under which at least four to five articles about the company were published on our website each month.
Moreover, Veysəloğlu concluded similar contracts not only with Hurriyyet but also with the majority of newspapers and websites published in the country.
This fact alone shows that the accusation is fabricated.” Vuqar Mammadov had been previously subjected to arrests.
In 2005, he was sentenced to two- year suspended imprisonment for publishing information about illegal football betting in a newspaper.
And on 24 July 2023, he and retired colonel Elnur Mammadov were sentenced to a month of administrative arrest for distributing some prohibited information.
GROUP № 2 HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS – 8 persons
