Urgent Action: Free Abzas Media journalist Nargiz Absalamova
55 days left to demand change
On 20 June 2025, journalist Nargiz Absalamova was sentenced to eight years in prison on politically motivated charges. Now she's being denied access to vital medical treatment.
Nargiz Absalamova is an investigative reporter at Abzas Media, an Azerbaijani media outlet that's been covering alleged national political corruption and environmental scandals.
Between November 2023 and January 2024, Nargiz and six of her media colleagues were arbitrarily arrested. Multiple false charges were brought against them, including smuggling money, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering and tax evasion. Following failed appeals, the group is now serving sentences of between seven and nine years at the remote Lankaran Penitentiary Complex 250km south of the capital, Baku.
Nargiz has a pre-existing sinusitis condition that has worsened in detention, causing her to suffer from severe headaches and shortness of breath. Despite formally requesting an MRI scan and medical check-up, she has been denied access to medical care – an act that may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Nargiz is not the only arbitrarily detained journalist to be denied healthcare in the prison, where allegations of overcrowded cells, sexual harassment, physical threats and psychological abuse indicate Azerbaijan may be failing to meet its human rights obligations.
In May 2026, Abzas Media expert Ilgar Aliyev died in custody, allegedly due to acute cardiovascular insufficiency. However, no independent investigation has been announced, raising serious concerns that he was denied access to adequate medical care. We are worried something similar could happen to Nargiz.
Call on the authorities now to release Nargiz, provide her with adequate healthcare, and launch an investigation into the targeting of journalists and dissenting voices by the Azerbaijani criminal justice system.
On 20 June 2025, journalist Nargiz Absalamova was sentenced to eight years in prison on politically motivated charges. Now she's being denied access to vital medical treatment.
Nargiz Absalamova is an investigative reporter at Abzas Media, an Azerbaijani media outlet that's been covering alleged national political corruption and environmental scandals.
Between November 2023 and January 2024, Nargiz and six of her media colleagues were arbitrarily arrested. Multiple false charges were brought against them, including smuggling money, illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering and tax evasion. Following failed appeals, the group is now serving sentences of between seven and nine years at the remote Lankaran Penitentiary Complex 250km south of the capital, Baku.
Nargiz has a pre-existing sinusitis condition that has worsened in detention, causing her to suffer from severe headaches and shortness of breath. Despite formally requesting an MRI scan and medical check-up, she has been denied access to medical care – an act that may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Nargiz is not the only arbitrarily detained journalist to be denied healthcare in the prison, where allegations of overcrowded cells, sexual harassment, physical threats and psychological abuse indicate Azerbaijan may be failing to meet its human rights obligations.
In May 2026, Abzas Media expert Ilgar Aliyev died in custody, allegedly due to acute cardiovascular insufficiency. However, no independent investigation has been announced, raising serious concerns that he was denied access to adequate medical care. We are worried something similar could happen to Nargiz.
Call on the authorities now to release Nargiz, provide her with adequate healthcare, and launch an investigation into the targeting of journalists and dissenting voices by the Azerbaijani criminal justice system.