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Baku court rejects appeal of Abzas Media employees, upholds original verdict

09 September 2025 17:12 (UTC +04:00)

The court hearing on the appeal of the verdict regarding the employees of “Abzas Media” has been held, APA reports.

Today, at the Baku Court of Appeal, presided over by Judge Zafar Ahmadov, the decision was announced.

Appeal dismissed, original verdict upheld

According to the ruling, the appeal was dismissed, and the original verdict remains in force.

Sentences of Abzas Media employees confirmed

Recall that, under the verdict of the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, Ulvi Hasanli was sentenced to 9 years, Sevinc Vagifqizi (Abbasova) 9 years, Mahammad Kekalov 7 years and 6 months, Nargiz Absalamova 8 years, Hafiz Babali 9 years, Elnare Gasimova 8 years, and Farid Mehralizade 9 years in prison.

Background: arrests and charges in smuggling case

Note that on November 21, 2023, the director of “Abzas Media,” Ulvi Hasanli, and the editor-in-chief, Sevinc Vagifqizi (Abbasova), were detained; on November 23, deputy director Mahammad Kekalov; on December 1, staff member Nargiz Absalamova; on December 13, journalist Hafiz Babali; and later, staff member Elnare Gasimova were all taken into custody on suspicion of smuggling as part of a group.

Initially, they were charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code (smuggling as part of a group). During the investigation, final charges were brought under several articles of the Criminal Code, including Article 193-1.3.2 (legalization of funds or other property obtained through criminal means, committed on a large scale).