Elnara Qasimova – journalist of the Abzas Media, an online Azerbaijani media outlet Date of arrest: 13 January 2024 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 Republic, stamps, seals, forms) and 320.2 (Use of obviously counterfeit documents) of the Criminal Code of the Azerbaijan Republic. On 15 January 2024, the Baku City Khatai District Court issued a ruling: to apply a preventive measure against Elnara Qasimova in the form of arrest for a period of 2 months and 17 days. 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 17 Conclusion: In connection with the arrest of Ulvi Hasanli, Sevinj Vaqifqizi and other employees of the Internet publication Abzas Media on 20 November 2023, Elnara Qasimova, an employee of that publication, was summoned for interrogation at the Baku City General Police Department on 23 November. For two hours, she has been interrogated and asked about her arrested colleagues for two hours. On 13 January 2024, Elnara Qasimova was again summoned for interrogation at the Baku City General Police Department. However, following the interrogation, the journalist was detained as a suspect in the smuggling case that was being investigated against the Abzas Media team members. According to her lawyer, Bahruz Bayramov, "Elnara Qasimova does not plead guilty to the charge. She related her arrest to the fact that she continued her journalistic work following the arrests of her Abzas Media colleagues. She was shooting and preparing reports for this publication". On 15 January 2024, Elnara Qasimova was brought to the Baku City Khatai District Court, that approved the investigation's petition. When the journalist was brought to the Court, her hands were handcuffed behind her back to prevent her from greeting her colleagues who had gathered in front of the courthouse. She was not allowed to use the toilet in the courthouse prior to the hearing. At the Court she was handcuffed in front. Following the lawyer's protest, the Judge ordered to remove the handcuffs. On 15 November, 2024, Sevinj Vaqifqizi and Elnara Qasimova protested against the violence to which was subjected Nargiz Absalamova as soon as they found it out. As a result, they were also assaulted by a group of female prisoners on the same day. 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.